Olympic intransigence

The second international conference "Unknown nations. Crime is still being committed. The Caucasus nations between the past and the future" has been held n Tbilisi. The initiators of the conference are the American fund Jamestown and the Ilya Chavchavadze Tbilisi University.

At the first conference participants from the US, Europe and Turkey recommended that Georgia admit to the fact of the Cirkess genocide in 1860s. However, the parliament of Georgia hasn't done so.

This year the forum is devoted to the possibility of boycotting the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. The National Olympic Committee of Georgia hasn't made a decision on boycotting the Games yet. However, the officials state that if relations between Russia and Georgia are not improved in 4 years, Georgian sportsmen wouldn't go to Sochi.

Concerning the conference, Vestnik Kavkaza interviewed the head of the Ilya Chavchavadze University, Gigi Tevzadze, and the head of the parliamentary committee on Caucasus affairs and community, Nugzar Tsiklauri.

Gigi Tevzadze:

At the second conference we discuss the same topics - the genocide of the Cirkess people and the situation in the North Caucasus. This time the problem of the Olympic Games in Sochi is added. We are welcoming many more participants this year than last year. Among them are famous scientists. Despite great pressure, guests from the North Caucasus have come. However, attempts were made to prevent them.

As for the Olympic Games, we have heard reports about the building of sports facilities. It is an ecologic tragedy for the region, including Abkhazia. On the other hand, Sochi is the place where the genocide of the Cirkessians was committed. Many Cerkessians and other participants are indignant about holding the Games there.

The next conference will take place in 2011. The theme has not been determined yet. However, our main goal is promoting the unknown history of the Caucasian nations. We are ready to invite Russian experts too.

Nugzar Tsiklauri

I am an active participant in both conferences. I would like to say that we can't separate the results of the conferences from our state policy towards the North Caucasus.  In the parliament we have founded a group of friendship with nations of the North Caucasus and begun work in this direction. We supported the decision of the executive power to implement a non-visa regime for the North Caucasus residents. When in Europe Georgians speak against the policy of Russia, the North Caucasus nations support them.

Our common aim is to diminish risks coming from the north. For Georgia, this direction is a priority. In addition, various non-governmental social organizations have been founded for development of relations with the North Caucasus nations. We can't accept that some forces try to accuse us of links with terrorists and so on. Our aims are peaceful.

As for the genocide, the Cirkessians have a clear position on this problem. Not only foreign communities but also the North Caucasus Cirkessians have asked us to admit the fact of the genocide in the XIX century. Our scientists have studied the data, and I think the parliament will admit the fact of genocide.

As for the Olympic Games in Sochi, this is a crucial moment for us, as it will be held close to Abkhazia, which is illegally occupied by the Russian military. Moreover, its ecology has suffered. The other point is the position of Georgian refugees.

Georgy Kalatozishvili. Tbilisi. Exclusively for VK