12:20, 16 August 2007

Azerbaijan: Meskhetian Turks ask for help from international organizations

Ibragim Burkhanov, Chairman of the "Vatan" Society of Meskhetian Turks, has informed the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent in Azerbaijan that in the near future they intend to address international donor organizations and heads of states asking for help in settling problems than can arise during the return of the Turks back home:

"International donor organizations and heads of governments of various countries can help the Turks with construction of new housing massifs and restoration of villages and settlements."

The "Caucasian Knot" has already informed that several days ago a group of Meskhetian Turks from Azerbaijan visited the places in the Adigen District (region of Samtskhe-Dzhavakheti) of Georgia, from where their ancestors had been deported by Stalin's regime in 1944. During the voyage, an incident was registered between local Meskhs and Meskhetian Turks.

The locals have stated that the return of the Meskhetian Turks can become possible only after their public apologies for persecutions of Meskhetian Christians in the beginning of the 20th century.

Author: Zaur Rasulzade, CK correspondent