International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN)

In December 2008, George Mason University hosted a group of Georgian and South Ossetian peacebuilders at Point of View, the university conflict resolution retreat house in Mason Neck, Virginia. The meeting sparked a series of discussions that have enriched participants' understandings of the possibilities for confidence building in the aftermath of the August 2008 war. Seven Point of View Workshops have catalyzed numerous confidence building measures that bridge the Georgian-South Ossetian divide. The Georgian-South Ossetian Point of View Process continues with a goal of further catalyzing constructive confidence building, sharing highly informed understandings of the conflict dynamics with advisors and decision-makers on both sides of the divide, and ultimately contributing to peace and security in the South Caucasus and beyond.

Tbilisi/Istanbul/Brussels, 13 December 2010: Georgia has maintained political and economic stability despite the shock of the 2008 war with Russia, but the government needs to use the two years before the next elections to create public trust in democratic institutions by engaging in meaningful dialogue with the opposition over further reforms.

The International Center on Conflict and Negotiation held the seminar in Batumi.

The International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN) held the seminar in Batumi. Its focus was Abkhazian – Georgian and Ossetian - Georgian conflicts.

The Civil Council for the Protection of Basic Rights and Freedoms was established in 2005 as a structured body that derived from the Movement Against Religious Intolerance in Georgia (MARIG), itself created in 2003, in response to the violent attacks on one of the religious minority groups. However, unlike MARIG, the Civil Council represents a structured body with its functions divided according to committees working on issues such as legislation, education and public affairs. Though not an independent body, the Civil Council was established under the umbrella of ICCN and continues to function through the technical and organizational assistance of the latter.

Organised by Georgian NGO Coalition for Democracy, coordinated by ICCN

The First National Congress of Georgian NGOs took place on June 25, 2006 at Sheraton Metekhi Palace Hotel, Tbilisi. The Congress gathered more than 400 delegates of NGOs, CSOs and media organisations from all around Georgia, including the conflict zones. A Joint Declaration was signed by the Congress participants. This event was organised by the Georgian NGO Coalition "Civil Society for Democratic Georgia" (later renamed to "Coalition for Democracy") and was coordinated by ICCN. Financial support was provided by Cordaid (the Netherlands). This powerful event was followed by further Congresses organised by the same Coalition.

The Georgian Orthodox Church's self-withdrawal from the World Council of Churches took place ten years ago. The meeting at ICCN aimed at studying the consequences of that development and was attended by representatives of the Patriarchate of the Georgian Orthodox Church and the confessions together with NGO representatives. The discussion started with a PowerPoint presentation of WCC history.

Conference supported by Cordaid was held on 28th of February 2008 at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace Hotel

Conference "Challenges to Democracy in Georgia" highlighting the findings of the program "Building Integrity in Georgia" and supported by the Dutch foundation "Cordaid" took place on the 28th of February, 2008 at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace. Among the issues discussed at the conference was the current political situation in the country. Special emphasis was made on the situation with human rights, mass media and the NGO sector in present-day Georgia.

Salvation Army Presentation

Within the framework of the EED-supported project "From Tolerance to Civic Integration" the International Charitable Organization “Salvation Army” held a presentation on the organizations’ activities and plans in the hotel "Ambasadori" on March 29, 2008. Among the participants were Civil Council members as well as representatives of governmental and nongovernmental organizations and the mass media. A presentation and discussion on minority issues was held.

From Tolerance to Civil Integration supported by EED (Germany) was held at Sheraton Metekhi Palace on  April 7, 2008. Presentations on the work carried out within the framework of the project “From Tolerance to Civil Integration” were made by ICCN staff members. Challenges facing religious and ethnic minorities were presented and discussed.

The Conference was opened by ICCN Director George Khutsishvili. The presenter introduced major outputs of the EED supported programme “From Tolerance to Civil Integration”.

Presentation of the work carried out within the framework of the project by the Civil Council for the Protection of Basic Rights and Freedoms was made by ICCN staff member Lela Kartvelishvili. Rusudan Gotsiridze (ICCN) presented the book “Religious Diversity in Georgia”. Research conducted in the framework of the EED project “The State of Minorities in Georgia: situational analysis” was presented by George Nizharadze.

Vitali Nabiev, of the Iezids Community in Georgia, and Koba Chopliani, Coordinator of the Ethnic Council at the Public Defender’s Office, discussed the main challenges facing religious and ethnic minorities in contemporary Georgia.