Ms. Tamar Taliashvili – Vice-President of NALAG and Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe replied to Mr. Thorbjorn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, on his statement at the 36th Session of the Congress.

“Let me thank you, Council of Europe and the Congress for your strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders. Notwithstanding occupation and continued oppression of the people of Georgia by the Russian Federation we do not give up and do not compromise our European way and shared values of freedom, justice and democracy.”- stated Ms. Tamar Taliashvili 

In her speech Vice-President shared information on the military operations Russia has carried out on the territory of Georgia since 1990 as well as on the impact of creeping occupation and living conditions of the Internally  Displaced Persons (IDPs). She also talked about the state policy, IDPs living and social economic conditions and the strategy of the Government of Georgia.

Vice-President also mentioned that Georgian government provides support for internally displaced families through activities outlined and regulated in the IDP national strategy and action plan. There are  livelihood support programms, as well as Grant program for supporting IDP self-employment, Greenhouse business expansion program, communication programms and etc.

Georgian Delegation visited Strasbourg to attend 36th Session of the Congress, with “Mayors safeguarding democracy” as this year’s theme. Delegation is composed of Mr. Giorgi Tkemaladze – Vice-President of NALAG and Chairman of Tbilisi City Assembly, Ms. Tamar Taliashvili – Vice-President of NALAG and Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Mr. Beka Davituliani – member  of Tbilisi City Assembly, Ms. Sevdia Ugrekhelidze – Deputy of Mtskheta City Council, Mr. Irakli Cheishvili – member of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara and  Ms. Nino Kavtaradze  – a deputy head of Georgian delegation to congress.