Darakhvelidze hosts European Council and EU international mission delegations
By Keti Arjevanidze
Thursday, March 21
The Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia, Davit Darakhvelidze, hosted the delegation of the European Council Secretariat on March 20.
Deputy Director of Policy Advisors, Daniil Khochabo and other members of the delegation became interested in the general condition of refugees in Georgia, the plans of the new government and the ways of solving the conflicts.
According to Khoshaba, it is the Europe Council Secretary General’s initiative to prepare a report on the next state of conflict and the government’s role in the conflict arrangement.
Khoshaba added that in order to prepare a report, their delegation visits Georgia twice a year. Minister Darakhvelidze presented the main necessities of the refugees to the delegation. He said that the conflict should be solved peacefully.
Darakhvelidze remarked that the Council of Europe in its last resolution, underlined the refugees’ right to return to their homes. “Our attitude towards achieving this aim is peaceful, there is a human resource, which is the most important resource for managing the conflict peacefully and for peaceful cohabitation," the Minister said.
According to the minister, the main necessity and problem for refugees is shelter, followed by employment problems, health, education and other social problems, adding that refugees before returning to their homelands need “honorable “conditions. Darakhvelidze revealed the promise to refugees that the major problems will be solved in four years,” the process has started and I hope that will continue successfully,” he said.
Delegation members think that the IDP Ministry’s vision and policy with regard to the problems of refugees is progressive and hoped that it will have a real productive outcome for the refugees.
On the same day Minister Darakhvelidze met with the EU International mission members in the frames of the Eastern Partnership. The main topic of discussion was migrants return to their homelands, also the reintegration of returnees and visa liberalization issues.
According to the minister, Georgia has made considerable progress in recent years and intensive negotiations with the EU about liberalization of the visa regime have started.
The minster also remarked about Georgia’s active participation in different international forums: The Prague declaration and the Budapest Process, thus underlining Georgia’s progress in international relations.
According to the EU's International Mission head, Rob Rosenberg, the issues discussed on the meeting were important for getting closer with EU standards.
The meeting was organized by the EU and representatives of 17 countries participated.
