Significance of directions of the National Concept of Tolerance and Civil Integration
2011 Kvemo Kartli
Marneuli
Festival “Under a Common Sky” 5
On 11 June, 2011 within the framework of “cultural dialogues” a multiethnic musical fes-tival was held in Marneuli called “Under a Common Sky”6 with the participation of music school pupils and individual artists from: Rustavi, Gardabani, Marneuli, Bolnisi, Tsalka, Koda and Dmanisi. Vice Premier and State Minister for Reintegration, Eka Tkheshelashvili awarded the best performers with diplomas and souvenirs.
The following activities envisaged by the Action Plan 2011 were implemented in Kvemo Kartli:
A grand piano and equipment was purchased for Marneuli and Tsalka Municipality music schools, the concert halls were renovated. Girl’s Choir was established;7 National Holiday “Novruz Bairam” was celebrated in Marneuli, participated with high
level representatives from the Government of Georgia; They addressed local Azeri population and congratulated on the holiday;
On 16 November an International Day of Tolerance was celebrated, A multiethnic concert was held (Rustavi, Gardabani, Bolnisi and Marneuli troupes and young per-formers of the music schools participated).8
Despite the fact that the number and frequency of the cultural events arranged in Marneuli is bigger compared to other cities of Kvemo Kartli, at a meeting with the monitoring group Marneuli Cultural Center Director Leri Mumladze stated that more mixed events where Georgians, Azeris and Armenians will participate together would be recommendable.
Bolnisi
In 2011 Azerbaijani Culture Days was celebrated in Talaveri, Nakhiduri and Kvemo Bol-nisi. Youth from Bolnisi participated in Novruz Bairam Festivity held in Marneuli.
Ashughi players competition – The source of financing could not be found to implement the activity.9
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An anniversary of Ghazaros Aghoiani, Children’s writer was celebrated _ representatives of Armenian Diaspora were visiting. Altogether 80 participants were involved. Armenian and Georgian songs were performed. Pupils read Ghazanos Aghoiani poems in Georgian and Armenian.
Dmanisi
Russian language Ensemble “Dmanisi Aisi” participated in National Festival “Artgeni 2011”.
Apart from this, the ensemble did not participate in other regional and inter-district events.
Unlike other Kvemo Kartli cities, Tsalka experiences lack of cultural and educational pro-grams. District is isolated from the cultural life going beyond its borders.
Action Plan 2011 envisages one or two events aimed at contributing to cultural life in Tsalka.
None of the folk and classic music concerts were held. Sports competitions are most fre-quently arranged.
Samtskhe-Javakheti
In 2011 regional ethnographic festivals “Javakheti Voices” and “Youth Festival” were cel-ebrated in Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Akhalkalaki Municipality hosted the traditional folk holidays: in village Kartsakhi – public holiday “Jivanoba”; also – an international Festival of Folklore. Ashugh musicians actively participate in such festivals, which is an exceptional example of minority cultural identity.
Akhalkalaki Ensemble Javakhi, participated in national cultural events as well.
Ninotsminda municipality hosted public holidays – in village Gandza, “Terianoba- Arme-nian poetry evening”; village Eshtia – “Viktor Hovsefian Poetry evening” .
It should be noted that the Armenian Ninotsminda and Akhalkalaki creative collectives with the support from municipalities regularly participated in different festivals held around the country. The level of cultural engagement, in this respect, is quite high.
Doukhobor holiday “Snow Descent” envisaged by the Action Plan has not been held.
In 2011, the exhibition was held at the Conference Hall of the National Parliamentary Library – “Doukhobors in Georgia”, dedicated to the 170 anniversary of their exile to Georgia. Invited guests were presented a book “Doukhobors’ Region” written by Ala Be-zhentseva, the chairman of the Women’s Union of Ethnic Russians living in Georgia – “Iar-oslavna”. A documentary by Alexander Kviria “Gorelovka - Community on Extinction” was also shown together 20-ish historic archive photos reflecting Doukhobors’ life.
The day should have been celebrated in Ninotsminda, as well, which did not happen.
It should be noted that the small community of Doukhobors living in the village Gorelovka is completely isolated from the cultural life in Ninotsminda. There is not even the desire for intercultural interaction from the community.
Ninotsminda Youth Festival “New Talent” was held in 2011. This is a traditional festival, which is held every year and aims to identify talented performers. Dance Ensemble “Para-vani” actively participates in the events around the country.
Kakheti
In some of the municipalities of Kakheti region there are compact settlements of ethnic minorities.10 Most numerous among them are Kists.
According to the head of Culture, Education, Sports, Social and Youth Affairs Service of Akhmeta Administration, Ms. Pikria Khokhobashvili, Kists actively participate in all major events held in the region. Kist Ensemble “Pankisi” consisting of nine members, actively par-ticipate in almost every cultural event in the Akhmeta Municipality.
Akhmeta Day was celebrated in 2011 in Pankisi, young people and school children from the villages of the Pankisi Gorge gathered to participate in this event.
Kists took part in traditional celebrations – Zezvaoba, which is traditionally held in the village Alvani, bidzinaoba it – Akhmeta. Groups “in Pankisi” left for France in 2011, the Caucasian peoples to participate in the festival.
In 2011 Akhmeta celebrated Pankisi Day. Youth and school students from different vil-lages in Pankisi Gorge came to Akmeta to participate in the event.
Kists took part in traditional celebrations – Zezvaoba, which is traditionally held in the village Alvani, Bidzinaoba – is held in Akhmeta. Ensemble “Pankisi” had a tour to France to participate in Caucasian People Festival in 2011.
Avars and Udis living in Kvareli are more closed a community. In accordance to Nana Sepashvili, a specialist at Municipality Culture Service there are no special events envis-aged in their culture program aiming at ethnic minority participation.
Telavi
In 2011, a festival organized by the Cultural Centre of Telavi Municipality “Under Kakhe-tian Sky” was held, where representatives of various ethnic minorities – Kurds, Azeris, Armenians, Ossetians and Kists participated.
10 Telavi District village Karajala (Azeri), Akhmenta District village Jokholo, Duisi (Kists), Kvareli district village Chantliskhure, Zinobiani, Tivi, Saruso (Avars), Vilage TsitskaanaTseri (Osetians), Lagodekhi District village Kabala (Azeri, Ossetians), Sagarejo District village Magharo (Ulianovka, Russians-malakans), Dedoplistskaro District (Russians, Azeri, Gypsy)
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An exhibition and sale of folk craft was held. Traditional dishes prepared by ethnic minori-ties were presented. A concert was held at the Cultural Center.
In village Tshoet (former Leninovka) in Dedoplistskaro village there is a compact settlement of Roma population11, among them – school-age children. Despite the fact that, with the help of the Ministry of Education, they participate in joint activities together with Geor-gian children, more focus in the Action Plan on Roma community and planning of concrete actions with the view of their integration can be recommended.
Supporting Clubs and Art Schools
Cultural centers and clubs help to preserve the cultural identity of ethnic minorities and improve their cultural relations in the regions of Georgia, since students get music and arts education here and them given the possibilities to participate within large scale events.
Considering the aforementioned, more focus should be allocated to the component in the Action Plan.
In Action Plan 2011 with the view of the preservation of the cultural identity of eth-nic minorities there is a program line: supporting clubs and arts schools in Akhalkalaki, Akhaltsikhe and Ninotsminda. The implementation of the above mentioned activities is un-der the responsibility of local municipalities.
In Akhalkalaki there are 51 such institutions, 21 – at central level and 51 functioning in the village. According to the municipality, in 2011 almost all of the institutions in the city were reconstructed. As compared to the institutions in the city, the majority of those in the village need repairs.
Arts schools
Akhalkalaki Arts School was established in 1990. School Director, Carl Karapetian was awarded the title of Honorary Teacher of Georgia.
The school has 10 employees and up to 40 pupils. The school is allocated annually 30 000 GEL from local budget.
The challenge of heating of the building in winter is still unsolved. Firewood is used for heating.
According to the director, during 2011 children’s several picture exhibitions were held at the school. However, these are local events in Akhalkalaki with no connection to other art schools in the capital and other regions. Young people in general go to Yerevan to study fine arts, nowadays.
11 Giorgi Sordia: Is there a solution? First steps taken to solve Roma Problems in Georgia.
http://tolerantoba.ge/index.php?id=1314971636
The Action Plan 2011 envisaged a visit of the children to Tbilisi and exhibition and sale of their paintings. However, due to a lack of funding, these activities have not been carried out.
The Action Plan should have a focus on integration for art school’s pupils. The school has often expressed interest to participate in the activities, but it failed to be imple-mented.
Problems Related to Music Schools
Problems related to the music education were underlined in Monitoring Report 2010 as well.
After the reform, music colleges (so called ten-year schools) that were a level higher to music schools and a prerequisite for higher music education were abolished. In Akhaltsikhe (as well as in Samtskhe-Javakheti in general, there is no music college). The students face the problem of enrolling an institution located in Tbilisi and of moving places together with their families. This is connected to multiple problems. In a few years’ time there will be a need for new staff, also.
There is a tendency among people living in regions populated by minorities to get music education in neighboring countries (Armenia, Russia)
6.6 Cognition and promotion of culture, history, language and religion of minorities as cultural values of the country.
Improving knowledge on culture, history, language and religion of the minorities will en-courage the integration and equal relationships between different ethnic groups.
To meet this objective the Action Plan 2011 envisaged support for holding an evening dedicated to the 67th anniversary of mass resettlement of Caucasian peoples, Chechen and Ingush deportation.
The anniversary was celebrated by a large scale event. Participants included both local (Government of Georgia, Parliament, NGOs, Ministers, scientists, students etc.) as well as north Caucasian representatives
Due to lack of financing the following events did not take place: A roundtable “Women in national traditions” related to the Independence Days of Georgia and historic homeland of the Azeri living in Georgia.
The Action Plan envisaged also development of a textbook – “Teach yourself Chechnyan – A Textbook for Foreigners” (in 4 languages: Chechnyan-Georgian-Russian-English) in electronic colour version and its online distribution. No donor organization was interested to finance the project.
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Objective 3: Protection of Cultural Heritage of Ethnic Minorities