DIGEST # 5 MAY/JUNE 2012 YEAR Societies (IFRC), Georgian that lead to the improvement of hard Delegation, as well as the Assistant/ living condition of thousands of IDP Senior Programmer of Public families who previously had been Affairs Section, the US Embassy in abandoned without attention for Georgia. She undertook MA Course years. in International Education Policy There are still lots of families who at Columbia University, NYC, USA are waiting for accommodation and various US State Department process and improvement of their professional development courses. living conditions, and I know that the Before being appointed on the new Prime Minister together with current position of the Minister new Government will implement of Internally Displaced Persons already launched processes more from the Occupied Territories, rapidly. NEW MINISTER OF Accommodation and Refugees of I would like to wish successes to INTERNALLY DISPLACED Georgia she was the member of the new Minister in her complex and PERSONS FROM THE Government and the Minister of responsible position. OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, Education and Culture of A/R of Thanks to all of my colleagues and Abkhazia, Georgia. staff members, as well as to donors ACCOMMODATION AND and partner organizations, IDPs REFUGEES OF GEORGIA FORMER MINISTER and everyone who supported our KOBA SUBELIANI activities. DALI KHOMERIKI On 4 July 2012, the Prime Minister STATISTICS of Georgia, Ivane Merabishvili, introduced Ms. Dali Khomeriki as a IN RESULT OF RUSSIAN new Minister of Internally Displaced OCCUPATION, MORE THAN Persons from the Occupied HALF MILLION PERSONS ARE Territories, Accommodation and FORCEFULLY DISPLACED Refugees of Georgia. IDPs according to the regions Outlining the importance of her new position, the Minister stated: “I will 0.4% 2.5% do my best in my new capacity to 0 0.2% 0.9% 5.9% 0.4% 2.5% 4.7% Regions ensure that the new program of Adjara 0 0.2% Guria the Georgian Government - “More 37.2% Tbilisi 0.9% 5.9% Benefit to People” reaches every 4.7% Regions Imereti Koba Subeliani held the position of 33.7% Kakheti IDP family”. Adjara Mtskheta‐Mtianeti the Minister of Internally Displaced Racha‐Lechkhumi‐Kvemo Svaneti Dali Khomeriki was born on Guria Samegrelo‐Zemo Svaneti Persons from the Occupied 9.6% Samtskhe‐Javakheti 37.2% 4.0% December 16, 1971 in Sukhumi, Kvemo‐Kartli Territories, Accommodation and Tbilisi Abkhazia. She forcefully left the Shida‐Kartli Refugees of Georgia during 2007 - Imereti Other place of permanent residence after 0.4% 0.6% 33.7% 2012.0.4% 2.5% Kakheti occupation of Georgia by Russia in 0 0.2% Koba Subeliani: “I would like to Mtskheta‐Mtianeti the 90’s of XX century. 0.9% 5.9% 4.7% extend my special gratitude to Regions Racha‐Lechkhumi‐Kvemo Svaneti After the graduation from the the President of Georgia Mikheil Adjara Samegrelo‐Zemo Svaneti English language faculty of the Saakashvili”. Guria 9.6%37.2% Samtskhe‐Javakheti Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State 4.0% Tbilisi I would like to thank Mr. Nika Gilauri, Kvemo‐Kartli University Sukhumi Branch, she Imereti former Prime Minister and all my Shida‐Kartli worked as a Head33.7% of Information Kakheti counterparts and the Government Other Office in the International Federation Mtskheta‐Mtianeti for 0.4%supporting me in my activities MINISTRy’S HOTLINE: (+995 32) 243 11 00 WORKING HOURS: 09:00 - 22:00 (except weekends) 0.6% Racha‐Lechkhumi‐Kvemo Svaneti of Red Cross and Red Crescent Samegrelo‐Zemo Svaneti www.youtube.com/devniltasaministro http://twitter.com/mragovge 9.6% Samtskhe‐Javakheti Printed with financial support of the “Capacity4.0% Development CONTACT INFORMATION: Programme for the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Kvemo‐Kartli www.myvideo.ge/devniltasaministro www.flickr.com/photos/mragovge Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia”. Georgia, Tbilisi 0177 The content of this digest does not reflect the official opinion of TamarashviliShida‐Kartli 15a www.facebook.com/devniltasaministro www.livestream.com/mragovge the EU and DRC. Responsibility for the information and views set e-mail:Other [email protected] This project is funded by out in this digest lies entirely with the authors. the European Union 0.4% 0.6% DIGEST DIGEST general experience towards refugees and IDPs and share WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2012 IN GEORGIA to each other their future aspirations. World Refugee Day has been celebrating since June 20, UNHCR addresses the protection and assistance needs 2011 in accordance with the decision of the UN General of some 276,000 persons of concern in Georgia which Assembly and the consent of the African Unity that includes more than 270,000 internally displaced people expressed solidarity toward the African refugees because (IDP), around 1,500 de-jure stateless persons and 450 the majority of refugees refugees. are in this country. To mark World Refugee Day is a tradition in the most MEETING ON MIGRATION AND ASYLUM countries of the world. ISSUES WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE World Refugee Day EASTERN PARTNERSHIP is the day when the “Eastern Partnership – EP” is a new form of cooperation United Nations High with Eastern neighboring countries of the European Union. Commissioner for “Eastern Partnership” is not an alternative of accession to Refugees (UNHCR) the European Union but it promotes the partner countries - would like to remember to become more integrated in the EU, to share common more than 33 million people who are among the most values, to strengthen security in the region and economic vulnerable on Earth. Many of these people live here in development by the means of regional and bi-lateral Georgia, relying on protection, support and humanitarian cooperation. assistance by the Government of Georgia, local authorities One of the priorities of the European Neighboring Policy of and the international community. They are hoping for a the EU-Georgia relations is migration issues. better future. The event held in “Holiday Inn” on May 3-4 was targeting Georgia joins the world community as well to facilitate the migration issues. The second meeting of the Easter conditions of refugees and IDPs and contributes to resolve Partnership Panel on Migration and Asylum was organized their problems. The most important is the joint event of the by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees of Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Germany and ‘’State Commission on Migration Issues” of Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia and Georgia. UNHCR to overcome problems of refugees and IDPs. The event was hosted jointly by the Ministry from the In spite of the fact that globally the mandate of the UNHCR Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of - foresees only refugees, IDPs and persons of special Georgia, Ministry of Justice - Civil Registry, European concern are under its support as well. Commission and Federal Office for Migration and Refugee This year the main of Germany in cooperation with the UNHCR. World Refugee Day event took All EP countries and International organizations (UNHCR, place in Gori. Local International Organization for Migration (IOM), International children together Center of Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)) working with artist Mr. David on migration and refugee issues in Georgia were involved Badzagua and in this meeting. the guests made The aim of the meeting was to discuss the system of a wall painting in refugee status determination and share best practice the Akhalbaghi among states. Park including the All participants message “Living in Dignity - Awaiting Dignified Return”. of the meeting Parallel to this a football tournament among nine Shida presented country Kartli settlements for IDPs took place, as well as an information about exhibition/ sale of handicrafts and other goods produced legal frame and by IDPs. The event concluded with a concert of ensembles procedures on from Gori Municipality Culture Centre. refugees and On the same day, a smaller event took place in Duisi, asylum and Pankisi Valley, where most of the Chechen Refugees e m p h a s i z e d from the Russian Federation in Georgia reside. Children r e c e n t l y held championships in Georgian Wrestling, chess and i m p l e m e n t e d football. Also there was horse racing, an exhibition/sale of innovations. handicrafts and other goods made/produced by refugees, At the meeting parties discussed future cooperation and and a concert performed by local ensembles. defined partnership of these countries which will organize The day before, within the framework of the event on the implementation of action plan 2012-2013 on realization of occasion of World Refugee Day took place in the National specific activities. Particularly, seminar on refugees and Library of the Parliament of Georgia. IDP and refugee asylum issues were planned on October 2012 which will children met with writers Tea Topuria and David Defi be implemented by Armenia and Romania. Holding the Gogibedashvili and Zaal Sulakauri, an artist. seminar on circular migration is planned at the end of 2012 - An event was organized for 5 to 13 years old 60 refugees by Moldova and Poland. On the autumn 2013, seminar on and IDP children from Pankisi Valley and IDP settlements readmission and reintegration is planned by Georgia and located near Tbilisi. The children were informed about Hungary. DIGEST DIGEST assignment of the rating score. • The public artists, painters STATE PROGRAMME OF As soon as the insurance period and the laureates of Rustaveli HEALTH INSURANCE starts, the medical insurance premium; policy will be delivered by a social • The teachers of public schools Every individual has right to agent or via the post office of of Georgia; have access to full healthcare Georgia, according to the place of • The administrative-technical service without distinction of his/ residence. staff of public school; her race, social status and belief.