Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, opened in Akhalkalaki an informational campaign planned in the framework of the State strategy in civic equality and integration.

The information campaign means informing the representatives of ethnic minorities living in the Samtskhe-Javakheti region about the state programs and services. During the next week population will receive an information about health, agriculture, social or economic programs. The Deputy Minister of Labor, Health and Social Affairs Tamila Barkalaia and Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture Yuri Nozadze participated in the meeting.

"Georgia is a country where every citizen is equal. And this equality means involvement and awareness. That's why we came here together with the representatives of various ministries. We want to provide the population with information on benefits and opportunities offered by the state.

"Informing of ethnic minorities living in the region, improving their access to the information, raising their awareness about various programs and services of the state - this is the vision of the Government of Georgia, one of the main priorities of the state policy.

"The state policy towards ethnic minorities, which is coordinating by our Office, is aimed at ensuring civic integration and equality in different spheres of the social life.

"That’s why we are planning to provide information to the people in the municipal level, in Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki, in the areas of ethnic minority communities or villages. We want all the citizens to know, what kind of benefits they can receive from the State”, - said the State Minister.

With the initiative and coordination of the Office of State Minister the information campaign has already been held in Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions. Information meetings with the population of Samtskhe-Javakheti will be held in Georgian and Armenian languages.