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Appendix One:  Framework Document 

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Document of The Hague Meeting on the Issues Relating to the Meskhetian Turks

Informal consultations on the issues relating to the Meskhetian Turks1  issue took place in The Hague, The Netherlands on 7-10 September 1998.

The consultations were initiated and hosted by the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel, in co-operation with UNHCR and the Forced Migration Projects of the Open Society Institute. Participants included representatives of the governments of the Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as representatives of Meskhetian Turks from these countries, including those from the public organizations "Vatan". Deputy Director of the Bureau for Europe of UNHCR Mr Hasim Utkan and Director of the Forced Migration Projects of the Open Society Institute Mr Arthur Helton acted as co-chairmen.
 
The main goals of the meeting were:
 
To exchange first-hand information on the situation of the Meskhetian Turks;
 
To promote dialogue and understanding among the parties involved;
 
To discuss the problems currently facing the Meskhetian Turks and respective authorities with a view to identifying ways and means to overcome them, thereby enhancing individual human and international security;
 
To attract the attention of the international community to the Meskhetian Turk case and to explore the possibilities of developing a joint and comprehensive approach towards it;
 
To establish a follow-up framework of activities.

On the basis of the discussion the participants came to the following conclusions reflected by the chairmanship as follows.

“The participants welcomed the call for focused action aimed at addressing Meskhetian Turk issues, made by the 1998 Geneva Steering Group meeting of the CIS Conference follow-up process. In this context, the participants from Russian Federation, Georgia and Azerbaijan especially welcomed the OSCE/UNHCR/FMP initiative as a significant and timely step in this direction. They noted that it is the first meeting of its kind, bringing together representatives of Meskhetian Turk public organizations, representative of affected governments and international organizations.
 
The participants:
 
—noted with deep concern that resolution of problems stemming from the forced displacement of Meskhetian Turks is long overdue. They stressed that the absence of durable solutions—be it local integration or voluntary resettlement—fosters political, legal and social problems, exacerbating the hardship in the affected communities and, in some cases, producing inter-ethnic tensions, and emphasized the need for the development of preventive strategies;
 
—acknowledged that progress in solving the Meskhetian Turk issue would serve as a valuable precedent for addressing other problems involving national minorities in the former Soviet Union;

—noted that the principles enshrined in the Program of Action adopted at the 1996 CIS Conference should serve as the framework for addressing the Meskhetian Turk issue;

—encouraged participating states to ratify the Bishkek Agreement of October 1992, and to take necessary measures towards its implementation;

—stressed the importance of the full political rehabilitation of the Meskhetian Turks, and full respect for their human rights, as a prerequisite for the realization of durable solutions;
 
—emphasized further the need to regularize the legal status of Meskhetian Turks in their respective countries of residence. In this context, particular concerned was expressed about Meskhetian Turks in Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation, and in Georgia.

—stressed the need to take measures to prevent/reduce statelessness among Meskhetian Turks in accordance with international norms and standards, in particular the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness;

—recognized that the search for solutions is a comprehensive endeavor that will require assistance from a wide variety of governments and international organizations and nongovernmental organizations;
 
—emphasized the need for cooperation and dialogue among concerned governments in addressing Meskhetian Turk issues;

—underscored the importance of humanitarian assistance, where appropriate, both on the state level and the international level;

—stressed the need to develop programs that promote inter-ethnic tolerance in countries where Meskhetian Turks currently reside, and to establish an information-sharing mechanism that facilitates dialogue, and allows Meskhetian Turks to make informed decisions concerning their future.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned goals the participants agreed on the need for an international, coordinated effort for the humane management of the Meskhetian Turk issue. As a first step, interested governments, international organizations and Meskhetian Turk public organizations should convene a meeting in the near future with the aim of institutionalizing a follow-up framework of activities. Participants requested that the OSCE/HCNM assume leadership of the follow-up process.

The participants lauded efforts already undertaken to develop the relevant legal framework in concerned countries, including Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, Georgia and Ukraine. In particular, participants welcomed the signature by the President of Georgia, Eduard Shevardnadze, of Decree #802 of 1996 and its prompt implementation, as well as the granting of Ukrainian citizenship by Ukraine to Meskhetian Turks residing on its territory.

The participants noted with satisfaction recent measures taken to reduce tension in Krasnodar Krai of the Russian Federation. They noted the importance of building momentum to further stabilize and improve the situation.
 

Participants from Russia, both on the federal and regional level, made the following proposals to:
 
—conduct a survey to clarify a variety of questions, including the size of the Meskhetian Turk community in Russia, its status and intentions;

—take into account the interest of the local population in addressing problems related to Meskhetian Turks in Krasnodar Krai and elsewhere;

—take steps to bolster the social infrastructure (i.e. schools, hospitals, job creation plans, etc.) in areas with high concentration of Meskhetian Turks, especially the Krymsky and Abinsky districts of Krasnodar Krai. Such infrastructural improvements should be aimed at benefitting the entire community, not just the Meskhetian Turk population;

—explore the possibility of establishing a house purchase program that enables Meskhetian Turks hoping to resettle to obtain a fair price for their vacated property. A special fund for this purpose could be modeled on an already existing house purchase initiative;

—establish intergovernmental mechanisms to expedite the voluntary resettlement of Meskhetian Turks;

—host a visit by international experts to assess the situation of Meskhetian Turks and local conditions in Krasnodar Krai and other regions of the Russian Federation, in full cooperation with federal and regional authorities.

The representative of the Georgian government called for:
 
—international assistance for an initiative to make available Georgian language instruction to Meskhetian Turks both within and outside Georgia’s territory;
 
—conducting a survey to determine the needs and intentions of Meskhetian Turks throughout the territory of the former Soviet Union concerning resettlement.

—conducting a survey within the Republic of Georgia with the aim of promoting tolerance and eliminating stereotypes connected with Meskhetian Turks. The survey would also examine conditions relating to human security.

—the convocation of a meeting in Tbilisi drawing together representatives of various Meskhetian Turk public organizations for the purpose of discussing terminology.

The representative of the government of Azerbaijan called for:

—a survey of the precise numbers, needs and the location of Meskhetian Turks residing on the territory of the former Soviet Union.

—the dissemination of humanitarian assistance to Meskhetian Turks in the greatest need, and not restricted to communities in any one country.
 
Representatives of Meskhetian Turk public organizations called for:
 
—the implementation of measures by the international community to promote capacity building, including measures to facilitate cross-border communication and cooperation within Meskhetian Turk public organizations.
 
—the establishment of a round table comprising all Meskhetian Turk civic organizations, aimed at promoting cooperation within the entire Meskhetian Turk community.
 
—the establishment of a council of experts to conduct a feasibility study on the question of Meskhetian Turk return to Georgia.

—the conduct of a survey to determine the precise number, needs and intentions of Meskhetian Turks throughout the territory of the former Soviet Union concerning resettlement.

—leaders of the Vatan organization from Moscow and Baku stressed that rehabilitation and repatriation to Georgia of Meskhetian Turks remain their primary goals.
 
—the publication of a bulletin, under the auspices of an international organization that examines issues connected with Meskhetian Turks, and represents all points of view. The aim of the publication would be to promote informed decision making concerning a variety of issues, including resettlement and the regularization of status.

The participants welcomed the presentation of these suggestions and agreed to include them on the agenda for the next meeting.”
 
 The Hague, 9 September 1998

1. Georgian Representatives stated that they preferred to use the term “Meskhetians” instead of “Meskhetian Turks.” To show goodwill and for this document’s purposes only,  the Georgian side agreed that the term “Meskhetian Turks”  would be used, as long as their official point of  view is duly registered.