National Integration and Tolerance in Georgia Program LAUNCH
On November 16, 2006, the United Nations Association of Georgia (UNAG) held the official launch of the National Integration and Tolerance in Georgia (NITG) Program. The Program is supported by the U.S. Government through USAID.
The program was launched on International Tolerance Day. This was the first significant celebration of Tolerance Day in Georgia. The event took place in the old part of Tbilisi and included a photographic exhibition on “Diversity & Tolerance.”
The event was opened with welcoming speeches by U.S. Ambassador John Tefft and the Head of the President’s Administration, Giorgi Arveladze. Speakers underlined their support for national integration as a key policy goal of the Government of Georgia. Ambassador Tefft stated: “The U.S. Government supports the Government of Georgia’s peaceful efforts to forge a progressive, prosperous, and stable multi-ethnic state within its recognized international borders and at peace with its neighbors. We are putting our words into action by providing funding for this project to assist the government to achieve this objective.”
After welcoming speeches, NITG Program staff Shalva Tskhakaia made a presentation to stress the importance of the initiative and to raise awareness.
The main objective of the NITG program is to promote an increased sense of national unity among the citizens of Georgia through support to the Government of Georgia in the formation of a national integration strategy and action plan. The program will empower people and organizations to effectively discuss, debate, and resolve a range of issues related to building a cohesive multi-ethnic nation.
The NITG Program will work in close cooperation with counterparts in the government – the State Minister on National Integration, President Saakashvili’s Advisor on Integration Issues, and the Civil Integration Council. The tripartite approach – engaging the Government of Georgia, civil society organizations, and stakeholder constituencies – will foster a shared vision for national integration for the country
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