Request number: (Allocated by the Czech Development Agency)

Initial Project Proposal

Title: ARCHIVES WITHOUT BORDERS: ONE MORE STEP FORWARD

Partner country: Region/town/locality: Tbilisi&Sukhumi

Expected Start Date of Implementation: Expected End Date: 1.01.17 30.06.19

Estimated total financial allocation (EUR): Expected Czech ODA financial 170 000 EUR contribution (EUR): (CZK) 170 000 EUR Applicant / Partner Institution: Name, type, mail and web address of partner institution; name and position of responsible manager, phone, fax, e-mail. Caucasus Dialogue Foundation (CDF), http://caucasusdialogue.org. Head of Council, Scientific supervisor of the project – George Anchabadze, [email protected]; mobile: +995 599 98 64 17. Responsible manager – Marina Pagava, [email protected]; mobile: +995 599 601 888. Other key partners: Name, type, mail and web address of partner institution(s); name and position of responsible manager, phone, fax, e- mail. An autonomous non-commercial organization «Work Group for Social and Humanitarian Issues “Alasha”. Director/contact person: Shorena Lakerbaya [email protected]; mobile: + 7 940 776 45 45. CONTEXT AND RATIONALE Development problem: Problem analysis. Please explain current situation, identify major problems and their real causes (problem tree), stating the baseline for the intervention. Please include cross-cutting issues in the problem analysis (identify the major problems from the gender perspective, with regards to environment etc.)

It is well-known that in ethno-political conflicts history stops being “just history, just science” and is used by war parties for political expediency. Georgian-Abkhazian conflict is no exception in this context. «The historic aspect» in Georgian-Abkhazian confrontation is so strong that it was, especially at times of escalation, referred to as “conflict of historians”. Specifically historians were the ones who formed the “historical rationale” for the issues so painful for Georgian-Abkhazian relationships such as «whose land is» and “aboriginal population” of . This was pure propaganda which hurt and wounded national feelings of people and aggravated further polarization of the communities. It is obvious that historians played a critical part in creation of general background of tension, non-confidence and hostility in Georgian-Abkhazian relationships which later turned into the bloody conflict of 1992-1993. The experience of communication with Georgian and Abkhazian historians illustrates that a complicated process of rethink is under way within this community. Each side shows willingness to hold a dialogue and get its scientific and citizenly truth across to the counterpart. This was pointed out at the meeting of historians (Moscow, 2003), and at the Round-Table meeting with scientists of Abkhazia (Sukhumi, 2011). Both events were organized by the authors of the given proposal within the framework of International Alert and program COBERM (a joint EU-UNDP initiative) projects respectively. It is clear how important a dialogue is between the groups which bear a direct relation to escalation of the conflict and formation of public opinion. Over the last years sustainable communication has been established between Georgian and Abkhazian scientists on the basis of the archival projects. By this time Abkhazian scientists themselves not infrequently request us for search of archival items through Georgian archives for them which points to the growth of confidence and cooperation.

This project creates conditions for strengthening professional interaction and cooperation between the scientists of Georgia and a target group / key beneficiary of the project – the scientists and young people of Abkhazia. Even though the nature of interaction with them will vary, a unifying force will be provision of the both groups of beneficiaries with archival documents that they need for their academic work.

Destruction of the Sukhumi Archive in the time of Georgian-Abkhazian war of 1992-1993 was perceived by the Abkhazian community as a deliberate act aimed against the identity and historical memory, negatively impacted the work of Abkhazian humanitarian scientists, deepened alienation and non-confidence between the sides.

Caucasus Dialogue has been working in this direction five years and each of the projects had its own specifications. The core of the projects – passing archival documents to the conflict sides – was added with different initiatives aimed at cooperation of scientists, raising awareness of the archivists on modern archive management, technical assistance to archives etc. The efforts to restore the archive have been perceived in Abkhazia as good will and aspiration of the Georgian side towards cooperation and strengthening of confidence. These activities have had a positive feedback both from scientific community and civil society, also from the political administration of Abkhazia. At the Geneva discussions in March 2015 a representative of the Abkhazian delegation pointed out that passing archives holds purely peace-making meaning.

So, within the framework of the project we will: - Hold lectures with bachelor students and master’s degree students of Abkhazian State University on the subjects of “Historical ” and “Abkhazia and Caucasian War” (28 hours a year). Due to the exceptional nature of the subjects we will tape-record and publish the lectures. - Identify the needs of Abkhazian scientists and students in terms of archival documents. Then we will search them through Georgian archives, digitalize them and pass to the Abkhazian side. - Prepare and publish two publications: (1) Courses of lectures on the subjects mentioned above and (2) A collection of the most valuable archival documents and photographs of the history of Abkhazia. - The web-site of Caucasus Dialogue is being improved. Improvement of the web-site implies placing all materials passed by Caucasus Dialogue to the Abkhazian and Ossetian sides for the five years of work. This includes 20 000 pages of historical documents and video-phono-photo materials, the documents selected within the framework of the project in question.

The implementation of the archival projects would be impossible without support of international organizations. Our partner-donors at different times have been the Embassy of Great Britain in Georgia and program COBERM. The Embassy of in Georgia has been involved since 2011 into the restoration process of the Abkhazian archive. Equipment has been gifted to the Sukhumi Archive. Through the facilitation of the Embassy a guest expert of archive management Juri Ulovec held a training workshop for archivists in Tbilisi and Sukhumi. In addition, the Embassy facilitated the arrangement of an information trip of Georgian and Abkhazian archivists and historians through Czech archives. Key stakeholders and beneficiaries: Analysis of key stakeholders and beneficiaries. Please define stakeholders who have significant influence or importance for the solution of the problem given above. Also, specify groups (e.g. women, men, girls, boys of different age, education, economic status and other categories) who shall directly benefit from the intervention, and those who will benefit indirectly. Please provide gender disaggregated data on both the stakeholders and the beneficiaries, if relevant.

The main beneficiaries of the project are scientists-humanitarians and bachelor and master students of Abkhazia. The absence of the archive substantially complicated the scientific work of this academic group. Despite this, they continued to work on the basis of personal archives and collegial exchange of the available personal items. Delivery of the documents which will meet the current scientific needs of the scientists-humanitarians will secure a favorable working environment for them.

The archive of Sukhumi, State University of Abkhazia, the Abkhazian Institute of Humanitarian Studies and the Academy of Science of Abkhazia will be replenished with new documents. Thus, the beneficiaries of the project will be both the listed institutions (as the documents will become their property) and staff members and students of these institutions. The process of digitalization of documents has been launched in the Georgian archives. The documents digitalized within the framework of the archival projects remain in the Georgian archives. Thus, the projects facilitate the hard work of digitalizing in the Georgian archives and therefore the latter are the beneficiaries of the project. Confidence building between the Georgian and Abkhazian scientific communities encourages peace- making spirits also in other groups of both communities separated by the conflict. In the first place this concerns the communities engaged in the Georgian-Abkhazian peace- making process both on the formal and informal levels. Thus, the mentioned communities are the beneficiaries of the project. Direct Beneficiaries: In total – 150 persons. (1) The scientists who will be directly communicated with by the scientific supervisor and coordinator of the project and the scientific needs of whom will be considered in the process of search of the archival documents. (2) Bachelor and master students of State University of Abkhazia. Average age of the direct beneficiaries – 20-85 years old. Approximate gender balance among the direct beneficiaries: 40% is women. Indirect Beneficiaries: In total - 3000 persons, 4 Institutions in Sukhumi and 5 archives in Tbilisi: (1) The institutions: the Archive of Sukhum/i, State University of Abkhazia, the Abkhazian Institute of Humanitarian Studies and the Academy of Science of Abkhazia; the Georgian archives; (2) The staff members and students of the listed institutions; (3) The communities engaged in the process of the Georgian-Abkhazian dialogue both on the formal and informal levels. Expected outcomes: Analysis of objectives. Please describe the vision of an improved situation (including change of behaviour and attitudes), including key measurable and qualitative outcome indicators (disaggregated by sex if relevant), and their current value.

The project is targeted at strengthening of cooperation between the scientists of Georgia and Abkhazia and young students of Abkhazia. It is well known that twice a year for the past 15 years George Anchabadze has been lecturing in Abkhazian State University at the invitation of the Abkhazian side. Bachelor and master students are taught exclusive lecture courses on “Historical Geography of Abkhazia” and “Abkhazia and Caucasian War”. Communication of the scientist with the youth of Abkhazia has an informal nature, initiated both by the students themselves and local NGOs as well. A wide variety of issues is discussed that includes visions and interests of young Georgian students. Unfortunately, G. Anchabadze is the only Georgian academician who has an opportunity to interact with the youth of Abkhazia. That is specifically why these activities hold an important peace- making meaning.

G. Anchabadze often participates in face-to-face discussions with scientists and intelligentsia, conferences etc, arranged by local organizations of Abkhazia. That, under the conditions of alienation between the academic communities of Georgia and Abkhazia, is of great conciliatory importance. Formative and social-educational activities on the sides of the conflict represent a communication bridge through which impartial information on spirits, visions and interests of Georgian and Abkhazian scientists and students is exchange. Experience has shown that the mutual interest is strong and remains. The relevant archival sources will be used through all communication channels with scientists and youth and their current interests and needs will be specified in terms of archival documents which will be later searched in Georgian archives, passed to the Abkhazian side and placed at the site. Therefore, submission of Georgian archive documents that are relevant for Abkhazian scientists and students in terms of their research work is considered within the given project as a tool for strengthening communication and cooperation. Involvement of Abkhazia State University students as key project beneficiaries holds long-term peace- making meaning as they represent future decision-making elites.

Consequently, the environment will be improved in the following areas that are so important for confidence-building: exchange of information, public access to archives, create favorable conditions for scientific work, broad the outlook and educational level of student youth. Expected outputs and/or required specific services, supplies or works: Please describe the concrete outputs when required, including baseline and target indicators, and technical specifications if relevant. The strengthening of cooperation between the scientists of Georgia and Abkhazia and young students of Abkhazia will be obtained by setting up sustainable communication between two initiatives each of which has its own background and marked peacekeeping nature. Expected outputs: (1) The public access to the archives have been increased. For the purpose of the output 1: 1.1 We will pass to the Abkhazian side archival documents given the current scientific needs of the target group – scientists-humanitarians and bachelor and master’s degree students. As a whole, around 7 000 pages of documents and other archival items will be passed. 1.2 The web-site of Caucasus Dialogue is being improved. The web-site holds books on history of Abkhazia and Georgian-Abkhazian conflict, history of nations of Georgia and Caucasus, military history; articles, interviews and a part of archival materials. Improvement of the web-site implies placing all materials passed by Caucasus Dialogue to the Abkhazian and Ossetian sides for the five years of work. This includes 20 000 pages of historical documents and video-phono-photo materials, the documents selected within the framework of the project in question. Clear classification and easy search – key principles of web-site improvement. 1.3 We will publish the most valuable archival documents and photographs on the history of Abkhazia. (2) Direct contacts with the scientists and youth of Abkhazia have been strengthen. For the purpose of output 2: 2.1 The bachelor and master’s degree students of Abkhazia State University (Sukhumi) will listen a course of lectures (28 hours a year) delivered by a Georgian scientist George Anchabadze on the subjects of: «Historical Geography of Abkhazia» and «Abkhazia and Caucasian War». 2.2 Due to the exceptional nature of the indicated subjects, the lectures will be tape- recorded and published. 2.3 Informal meetings, discussions with Georgian and Abkhazian scientists, intelligentsia and young students. As a rule, around 10 events like this take place a year and they are initiated by local organizations in Tbilisi and Sukhumi. Possible strategies: Analysis of strategies. Please compare different options to address the given situation, and then chose the most relevant and feasible strategy according to clear criteria (incl. national development plans, time and economic limits, civil society and women/gender groups strategies etc.).

In order to facilitate public access to the archives, we will use the following strategies: - Specify scientific needs of the project target groups. - Search the documents, get familiar with them, select and digitalize them. - Pass the documents to Abkhazian Archive, Abkhazian Institute of Humanitarian Research, Abkhazia University, Academy of Science of Abkhazia, place on the web-site. - Improve the site. - Prepare the collection of archival documents on the history of Abkhazia. The collection will include written sources and photographs that are most valuable for the history of Abkhazia. This is going to be visually attractive edition with high standard graphic arts. In order to strengthen direct contacts with scientists and youth of Abkhazia: - Lectures in Abkhazia State University (28 hours a year). Tape-record the lectures. - Publish the lecture course on the subjects of: «Historical Geography of Abkhazia» and «Abkhazia and Caucasian War».

Informal meetings, discussions with Georgian and Abkhazian Scientists, intelligentsia and young students; participate in the conferences; interviews. As a rule, around 10 events like this take place a year in Tbilisi and Sukhuimi. Due to the fact that these contacts mean a lot in the context of the given project, but, at the same time, are initiated be local organizations, these activities will not need separate financial resources. Role of the applicant/partner organization and roles of other key partners: Please describe briefly the roles and responsibilities of key project stakeholders during project preparation, implementation and also their guaranties for ensuring sustainability of the benefits of the requested development intervention.

George Anchabadze, director and scientific supervisor of the project. Maintains communication with the Abkhazian scientists and bachelor and master students of Abkhazia, is responsible for the whole project and the final selection of the archival items, and for the final selection of archival documents and photographs for publishing. The editor-in-chief of publishing a course of lectures on the subjects of: «Historical Geography of Abkhazia» and «Abkhazia and Caucasian War», controls and bears responsibility for the budget allocation according to the articles of the budget.

Marina Pagava, coordinator of the project. She coordinates the project cycle, maintains communication with the administrators of the archives and the archivists, participates in the selection of the archival documents together with the scientific supervisor of the project, prepares narrative project reporting. She takes part in editorship of two editions within the project framework.

Shorena Lakerbaya, Abkhazian partner of the project, director of an autonomous non- commercial organization «Work Group for Social and Humanitarian Issues «Alasha». She is responsible for logistics within Abkhazia. Complementarity: Аnalysis of other relevant development interventions executed by the government (or) in co-operation with other donors, complementarity of the requested intervention with activities carried out so far.

A substantial trend becomes clear in the flow of the “archival projects”. While at the early stage the Abkhazian side was passed to the documents bearing direct relation to the history of Abkhazia, the archival search gradually became more focused on meeting the scientific interests and needs of the Abkhazian scientists. This approach is the result of the development of the archival line and is related with the extension of the cooperation with the Abkhazian scientists and increasing understanding of their needs by the Georgian colleagues. This project therefore will make more difference than the previously executed ones and will contribute to the trust level between the scientific communities of the conflict sides and motivate them towards the future cooperation and new dialogue- oriented initiatives.

The previous projects were oriented on satisfaction of archive-related interests of Abkhazian scientists. This project will be the first to take into account the interests of students – master and bachelor students of Abkhazia State University.

For the first time within the framework of the project, two publications will be prepared and issued: the course of lectures on the two subjects mentioned above, and a collection of the archival documents and photos that are of the utmost importance for the history of Abkhazia. The historical documents included into the collection, will be passed into the scientific application for the first time. Date and Signature: Place? date? name of authorized person within applicant institution and his/her signature, stamp. George Anchabadze, Director and Scientific supervisor of the project. 11/05/2016, Tbilisi, Georgia.