IDPs in Georgia and their integration within the today’s Georgian society Public discourse on the issue of IDP integration in characterized by various attitudes – IDPs themselves often consider integration as a factor hindering return to their homes and are less likely to view this process as a positive change either for them or for a wider societal life. For that reason, there exists diversity of approaches while defining the term “integration.”
Born in Exile – New Generation of IDPs with Old Problems The issue of the integration of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into local communities is still problematic for our country. The lack of integration is the issue not only for an older generation of IDPs from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, but also for those born in displacement. New generations of IDPs also suffer from this problem.
Internally Displaced Persons of the Samegrelo Region: Problems and Integration in the Local Society After almost two decades of the ethnic conflicts in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the legacy of the displacement remains a reality for 246,000 internally displaced people in Georgia. The number of internally displaced population is substantial for a small country like Georgia, comprising 6% of the total population.
The Situation in the Northern Caucasus and Possible Influence on the Security and Stability of Georgia On 20 October 2010, the Heinrich Boell Foundation hosted a public debate about the current situation in the Northern Caucasus and its possible influence on the security and stability of Georgia.
Regional cooperation as an Instrument for Peace Building and Reconciliation – Best Practice and Lessons from Europe On October 10th a group of Georgian and international policy shapers and researchers went to a Field-trip to investigate best practices of regional cooperation between Georgia and Abkhazia. As an impressive example for regional cooperation the group visited the Enguri Dam near the Administrative Border Line.
Nachklang – Georgia one year after the war The South Caucasus Regional Office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation and Europe House Georgia organized the photo exhibition entitled: “Nachklang – Georgia one year after the war” by the photographer Uwe Schober.
The Georgian-Russian Relations: Perspectives for Restoring the Dialogue On 2 June 2010, the HBS invited experts, representatives of non-governmental organizations, political parties and interested individuals for a debate on the theme of “The Georgian-Russian Relations: Perspectives for Restoring the Dialogue”.
Local Self-Government, Upcoming Local Elections and IDPs – accountability, responsibility and participation Within the framework of the project “IDP Public Debates” the Heinrich Boell Foundation organized the series of public discussions for the community of IDPs in Gori, Tskaltubo and Zugdidi. The topic of discussions for all three debates was: “Local Self-Government, Upcoming Local Elections and IDPs – accountability, responsibility and participation”.
A Little War That Shook the World: Georgia, Russia and the Future of the West “If Poland becomes a member of NATO, there will be nuclear war.” A Russian general delivered that warning to Ronald D. Asmus in the 1990s, on just his third day in the job of advancing the Clinton administration’s policy of NATO enlargement. When Asmus spoke on a panel at the HBF on April 15, 2010, he did not reveal how he answered his pugnacious counterpart. Diplomatically, he also left the general unnamed.
IDP Debates in Gori, Tskaltubo and Zugdidi (closed project) The HBF is conducting a new series of debates, dealing with the problems of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Georgia. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), due to the conflicts in the 1990s and the August war 2008, more than 247,000 people have fled from their hometowns and are now living in settlements or former sanatoriums and hospitals especially in the border regions to the occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.