The First Deputy State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality gave a presentation before the City Council of Tbilisi. Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili presented the State Strategy on Civic Equality and Integration and its respective Action Plan for 2015-2020.
The Head of Commission Ms. Guliko Zumbadze opened the session, noting that the City Council of Tbilisi shall elaborate the Action Plan for 2016 together with the City Hall of Tbilisi and submit the report before the State Minister’s Office.
Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili gave an overview of essential areas and updates of the Strategy and the Action Plan. The First Deputy State Minister noted that the documents have been elaborated with the consideration of local practices and with respect to international standards; representatives of ethnic minorities of Georgia, local experts, as well as representatives of OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities took an active part into this process. Mrs. Tsikhelashvili highlighted the importance of the topics of the Strategy and the Action Plan, as are the support to teaching of State Language for ethnic minority representatives, access to media and information, quality of education and cultural self-preservation.
“It is important that the City Council is ready for cooperation in the area of civil integration. In this context, Tbilisi is a unique example and enduring symbol of centuries-old peaceful coexistence of people with different ethnic and religious backgrounds,” – Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili declared.
The First Deputy State Minister also noted that the documents consider support for fully-fledged integration of not only major, but also small ethnic groups, with applicable standards of instruction for the languages of these groups.
Representatives of Tbilisi City Hall, ethnic minorities living in Tbilisi and non-governmental organizations took part into the session. The First Deputy State Minister responded to their questions.