21.12.2006 APLR Hold the Conference in Marneuli

On December 20, Association for Protection of Landowners Rights (APLR), with the support of OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities and Canadian International Development Agency, held the Conference in Marneuli on the achievements of the project – Free Legal Consultations and Awareness to Marneuli Residents. Representatives of local authorities and population, Embassy of Azerbaijan in Georgia and donor organizations took part in the Conference.

It was mentioned that Marneuli Consultative Center, APLR/OSCE-HCNM/CIDA joint office carried out considerable works for providing legal assistance with respect to land related and other issues, for identification urgent problems existing in the region and finding solutions to these problems together with local authorities. Within the scope of the project the Center offered assistance to hundreds of local residents, the majority of which were ethnic Azeries; conducted the number of public meetings in local villages, as well as roundtable meetings at the Center for the discussion of various problems, such as perfection of irrigation and power supply systems, improvement of services rendered by local offices of public registry and population registration etc.; distributed brochures, bulletins and other information materials dealing with the issues of local communities interests.

Representatives of local population, gamgebeli of Marneuli district and chairman of local Sakrebulo thanked the APLR and donor organizations for their efforts and stated that APLR’s assistance is the most efficient among the works carried out by non-governmental organizations in the rayion. It was also stated that providing further assistance and strengthening joint efforts of Marneuli Consultative Center and local authorities is desirable for resolution of identified problems.

APLR representative mentioned that the Center plans to provide further legal consultations to the local communities, as well as advocacy services, extend its activities in the region, turn the organization into the business-supportive information institution and provide assistance to local economic institutions in regional economic development planning.

According to Nino Bolkvadze, representative of OSCE High Commissioner for National Minorities, the project was a pilot one aimed at identification of local communities needs. Donors consider it successful and plan its further extension. Presumably, the project will be carried out not only in Marneuli, but also throughout Kvemo Kartli region.