EU General secretary Torbiorn Iagland and the head of EU committee of ministers, the Minister of Foreign affairs of Macedonia Antonio Miloshovski with the Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia Koba Subeliani held a meeting with IDP population in Tserovani.
The delegation members visited public school, infrastructure and cottages; they have also conducted discussions with the IDP population.
Koba Subeliani showed the guests August war and post war “hot days” photos. The minister explained that IDPs lived in tents previously and that cottages were constructed for them in a very short period of time and that IDPs were provided with the living spaces; he also informed them what conditions IDPs live in now and how the government supports them in cooperation with the partner and the donor countries. The minister also mentioned that if action was not taken so quickly we would face the situation of humanitarian disaster.
The meeting between IDPs and the guests was conducted in the yard of Tserovani public school. IDPs had only one request. “To withdraw Russian army and to return them back to their native land. We prefer to live there. We have only deceased relatives there, our houses are destroyed” – mentioned the IDPs from Didi Liakhvi during the meeting with the guests.
After that the guests visited the IDP family cottage and personally heard their tragic story. Zangeladze’s IDP family from Kekhvi asked the delegation a help in return to their homeland. “Please support us. The occupants destroy our houses in order not to return back. They robbed our houses and then destroyed and burnt them. Our parents’ graves are there and we have to return back. Unfortunately, we are the small nation and we will not be able to return back without your support” – mentioned the member of Zangeladze’s family during the meeting with the guests.
EU General Secretary mentioned during the meeting with the IDPs that the aim of his visit is to support IDPs. As per his statement:”The aim of my visit is to discuss what can be done. We are not involved in politics and Geneva negotiation process. Our aim is to relief people’s suffering and defend their rights. Accordingly we work with IDPs who became displaced because of war. Meeting with these people was very touching. We realize that they want to return back to their native land and our aim is the same.”
The minister Koba Subeliani expressed his hopes during the meeting with the delegation members that they will do their best to finish with the occupation regime as soon as possible.
“I hope that EU position towards Russia will be principal. All IDPs’ right is to return back that will be achieved with the support of EU. The most important is that the occupation regime is frequently mentioned. Recognition of the occupation means that the occupation regime will soon be replaced with the de-occupation regime and it will be soon over; this process has to be finished in short period of time. We will do everything from our side. EU can bear pressure upon occupation regime and hopefully we will get the results in the nearest future.
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