“Young Barristers” arranged first regional meeting within the the frameworks of the “Ethnic Minorities’ Forum” on June 24, 2015 in Akhaltsikhe Municipality.  The following issues have been discussed during the Forum: Georgian –EU relations and an importance of European Integration to the country, current contacts and perspectives, Eastern Partnership Program, Georgia and the Eastern Partnership System. Representatives of the regional  educational sector, as well as civil sector, local self-government and  regional Governor’s Office, participated in the Forum.  In addition, the meeting was attended by Tinatin GhoGheliani - from the Office of the State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Tengiz Buachidze - from  the Office of the State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic integration and Nino Maghradze – from  the Information Center on NATO and EU. Young Barristers, along with representatives from the ministries, introduced to the society the Eastern Partnership program history, its current activities and role in the process of integration with Europe, as well as main aspects of the Georgian-EU Association Agreement, the role and responsibility of the ethnic minority in the process of integration.    

The “Ethnic Minorities’ Forum” made it possible for the ethnic minority in Akhaltsikhe to have direct communication and ask questions to the representatives of the local and central government. They had opportunity to get information and discuss Eastern Partnership Program and European Perspective of Georgia. The documentary film by Toma Chagelishvili about European Union was also presented during the forum. A special report, “Information Campaign about the Eastern Partnership for National Minorities Communities”,  prepared by “Young Barrister”,  was submitted to the local citizens, local  libraries, Center for Civil Involvement, Self-Governments and civic organizations. The report was in both, Georgian and Russian languages.    

Archil Kaikatshishvili, a Head of “Young Barristers” says, that the objective of the project is to inform, engage and increase ethnic minorities’ trust  in the issues like  Eastern Partnership Program, Georgian-EU relations perspectives and the role of minorities in this process. Nino Isakadze,  a project coordinator,  noted during presentation, that  still, ethnic minorities are not well informed of the responsibilities and benefits followed by European integration, and in order to overcome the problem, it is necessary to make people aware of the good and importance of  European Choice.

“Young Barristers” are implementing the project “Ethnic Minority Form” within  the frameworks of the small grants  program  on the Eastern Partnership Minorities Network of the “Analytical Center for Interethnic Cooperation and Consultations”.

On July 14, 2015,   “Young Barristers”  arranges next meeting within the frameworks of the “Ethnic Minorities’ Forum” in Marneuli Municipality.