Monitoring results of implementation of the National Concept and Action Plan on Tolerance and Civil Integration Monitoring results of implementation of the National Concept and Action Plan on Tolerance and Civil Integration Council of National Minorities under the auspices of the Public Defender of Georgia 2010-2011 Published by the Tolerance Center under the Public Defender of Georgia with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia, United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Advancing National Integration (ANI) Project of the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG), and the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI). The views expressed in this publication are those of the author/s and do not necessarily represent those of UNDP, USAID, UNAG and ECMI. ISBN 978-9941-0-5067-1 Content 2010 Rule of Law; Political Integration and Civil Participation; Social and Regional Integration 11 State Language and Education 17 Culture and Identity Preservation 45 Media and Access to Information 70 2011 Rule of Law; Political Integration and Civil Participation; Social and Regional Integration 87 State Language and Education 95 Culture and Identity Preservations 126 Media and Access to Information 146 AnneX AnneX #1. National Concept for Tolerance and Civil Integration 165 AnneX #2. Action Plan 170 Introduction This publication presents findings of 2010-2011 monitoring of implementation of the Na- tional Concept and Action Plan on Tolerance and Civil Integration. The monitoring was conducted by the Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender of Georgia with the aim to assess state programs in support of civil integration and to elaborate rec- ommendations for addressing existing challenges. The Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender designated 12 members to a monitoring group, which was divided into four sub-groups with following composition: Education and State Language: Leila Mamedova – Georgia’s Azeri Youth Union; Elene Kurtanidze – Ukrainian Teachers’ Union of Georgia; Shalva Tabatadze – invited edu- cation expert. Culture and Preservation of Identity: Marine Solomonishvili – Jewish Women’s Interna- tional Foundation “Lea”; Alla Bezhentseva – Russian Women’s Association of Georgia “Yaroslavna”; invited experts on culture – Sopho Zviadadze (2010 monitoring) and Ekaterine Chitanava (2011 monitoring). Media and Access to Information: Zaur Khalilov – Civil Integration Foundation; Mikheil Aidinov – Russian-speaking Journalists’ Association; Ketevan Mskhiladze – invited me- dia expert. Rule of Law, Political Integration and Civil Participation; Social and Regional Integration: Agit Mirzoev – Analytical Center of Inter-ethnic Cooperation and Consultation; Mar- iam Mikoyan – Coordinator of Regional Integration Working Group of the Council of National Minorities; Giorgi Sordia – invited expert. During the monitoring process, meetings and in-depth interviews were organized with representatives of central and local government, non-governmental organizations, com- munity leaders and other target groups in various cities and regions of Georgia, among them: Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Akhaltsikhe, Akhalkalaki, Ninotsminda, Bolnisi, Dmanisi, Gardabani, Tsalka, Marneuli, Rustavi, Telavi, Sagarejo, Akhmeta, Kvareli, Lagodekhi. In total, monitor- ing group conducted more than 120 meetings. 7 It should be noted that majority of representatives from state bodies and non-governmental organizations showed big interest and responsibility towards issues raised by the Council members in the course of monitoring. The Council of National Minorities established ex- ceptionally effective partnership with the National Council of Tolerance and Civil Integra- tion under the President of Georgia and its Chairperson – Mrs. Tamar Kintsurashvili. Draft monitoring report was discussed during the joint session of the Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender of Georgia and Civic Integration and Tolerance Council under the President of Georgia which was held in Batumi. While, final monitoring results were agreed upon at the Council meeting in Tbilisi. Monitoring findings illustrate shortcomings in the implementation process of the National Concept and Action Plan on Tolerance and Civil Integration, as well as, outline achieved progress. After three years since the activation of the National Concept, a lot of positive steps have been taken in the field of general and higher education; important infrastruc- tural projects have been implemented in the regions populated by national minorities. It is important to note that overall conditions for promoting civil integration has significantly improved in Georgia over the recent years. Nevertheless, there are remaining issues that require timely solution. The Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender carried out the monitoring of implementation of the National Concept and Action Plan on Tolerance and Civil Inte- gration with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded Advancing National Inte- gration (ANI) Project of the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG), and Euro- pean Center for Minority Issues (ECMI). The Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender expresses its gratitude towards state agencies and donor organizations for their support and fruitful cooperation. The Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender operates since 2005 and it unites more than 100 organizations representing each ethnic minority residing in Geor- gia. With regards to civil integration and protection of national minorities, the Council of National Minorities represents the major consultative body for the Public Defender and state agencies. The Council’s work is coordinated by the Tolerance Center under the Pub- lic Defender of Georgia. 8 2010 10 Rule of Law; Political Integration and Civil Participation; Social and Regional Integration The Monitoring Report presents the findings of the Council of National Minorities under the Public Defender of Georgia. The Report is based on Monitoring Group’s field research, focus group discussions, analysis of related legislation and consultations with experts. The Monitoring Group aimed at assessing implementation of the National Concept on Toler- ance and Civil Integration and Action Plan 2010, including identification of existing prob- lems and challenges, achievements and the needs to be addressed. The monitoring was conducted throughout November-December 2011. However, the work of expert groups continued in January-February 2012 with an end to identify and assess more issues re- garding civil integration of national minorities in Georgia. From priorly defined four directions of the Action Plan, the presented Monitoring Report reflects the issues pertaining professional development and employment, political and civic participation, and regional integration of national minorities in Georgia. The monitoring was conducted in all regions densely populated by national minorities – Kakheti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Kvemo Kartli and Imereti. The members of the Monitor- ing Group organized meetings with the representatives of local self-governments, high authorities of internal forces (local representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Gen- eral Prosecutor), leaders of political parties at the local level, heads of Central Election Commission of Georgia, representatives of local non-Governmental organizations and people from the local community. Professional Development and Promotion of Employment of National Minorities When describing the measures taken towards professional development and promotion of employment of national minorities based on the Action Plan the major focus of the State Report 2010 is on the operation of Zurab Zhvania School of Public Administration and different professional development courses administered by relevant governmental agencies. 11 With regards to Zurab Zhvania School of Public Administration the State Report 2010 maintained that the school offeres educational and professional development short term and long term courses. Namely, the short term courses listed include: 1) Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs); 2) Financial Management; 3) Project Management and Monitoring; 4) Human Resource Management; 5) Basics in Law and Clerical Work; 6) Basics in Management. Long-term Courses are Georgian Language Course (three months a year, step by step) and English Language Course (three months a year, step by step). The findings of the monitoring revealed that the section of the State Report is not based on actual situation in Zurab Zhvania School of Public Administration, but just reflects the list of objectives and goals of the School which were only partially implemented in 2010. Spe- cifically, the results of the monitoring demonstrate that in 2010 only 11 attendees were enrolled at public administration direction of the school and since second half of 2010 the public administration components and relevant short term courses were totally cancelled. As for the vocational training and other components of employement, 2010 report presents brief information about the ongoing training courses for representatives of national minori- ties. Namely, the state report mentions Katshreti Vocational Training Center, Akhaltsikhe Vocational Training Center and Profesional Development courses at Ministry of Internal Af- fairs and Prosecutor’s office. The monitoring