Georgia’s issues discussed with international rapporteurs

Georgias religious issues and repatriation policies were discussed by Government official and international investigators today.

Georgias State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality met with Council of Europe Parliamentary Assemblys (PACE) co-rapporteurs Michael Jensen and Boris Silevich and Monitoring Committee members.

After the meeting, Paata Zakareishvili told journalists that the international guests were interested in problems facing Georgia.

"First of all they were interested in religious minority issues. I am the head of the government commission on religious matters and I reported on the ongoing situation, Zakareishvili said.

"They also wanted to know how the repatriation process of Meskhetian Turks was getting on. Im also the deputy head of the corresponding commission, so we had a conversation on the current developments, he added.

The guests were more interested in Government processes so they didnt speak much about the occupied territories, Zakareishvili said.

"Naturally, they are interested in the problem of the occupied territories but they have other mechanisms of studying it.

Co-rapporteurs Jensen and Silevich are due to host several meetings in Tbilisi today. The pair have already met with Georgian Ombudsman Ucha Nanuashvili.

During their visit, the delegation also planned to meet with Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili, members of the Parliamentary Majority, Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani, Minister of Corrections and Legal Assistance Sozar Subari and Chief Prosecution employees.