The presentations of archival publications and documentary films, prepared jointly by the Georgian and Abkhazian professionals, were hosted in Tbilisi, with Thea Akhvlediani, the Georgian State Minister for Reconciliation and Civil Equality, opening the event, the Office of the State Minister said on Friday.
Five joint studies and three feature documentary films related to the repressions carried out in Georgia’s Abkhazia region during the Soviet occupation, the struggle against the regime, as well as the fate and memory of the people killed and missing in World War II, were prepared with the direct support of the Office of the State Minister, the active involvement of Interior Ministry and financial support of the Council of Europe.
The second part of the event included the presentation of the publications and the review of the working process of Georgian-Abkhaz meetings.
In her speech, Akhvlediani emphasised the importance of restoring trust between members of an “artificially divided society”, deepening cooperation and dialogue around common interests, and noted the joint projects would contribute to peace initiatives, which “are the state’s priority policy in achieving the main goal of reconciliation and peace-building”.
Along with the invaluable efforts of all Georgian and Abkhaz specialists participating in this project, the outstanding role and support of our long-time partner, the Council of Europe, are especially noteworthy”, she added, thanking all the participants for their efforts.
Anna Capello, the Head of the Confidence Building Measures Division of the Council of Europe's Directorate of Political Affairs, said since 2009, the Council “has been eager to promote the deepening of people-to-people relations between Tbilisi and Sokhumi”.
Members of the Georgian Parliament and Government, representatives of diplomatic missions and international organisations accredited in Georgia, as well as civil society and academic circles, took part in the event dedicated to the joint Georgian-Abkhazian project.