Conference of Russian and Georgian women-peacemakers in Tbilisi

Conference of Russian and Georgian women-peacemakers in TbilisiDecember 4-6, Tbilisi, Georgia

Meeting of Russian and Georgian women-peacemakers was held in Tbilisi on December 4-6, 2009. In the meeting participated ten women from different region of Russia and ten women from different regions of Georgia. Among them there were – activists of NGOs and journalists of the two countries who took the function of establishing dialogue between two nations based on the values common of all mankind and traditional peace co-existence of Russia and Georgia.

The Conference was organized by women’s non-governmental organizations – Cultural-Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi” (Georgia) and Regional public organization “The Union of Don Women” (Russia) with the financial support of the Swedish Women’s Foundation Kvinna Till Kvinna.

This was the first meeting of women – representatives of civil society organized in Georgia since the war in August 2008.

Participants of the meeting discussed possible ways for establishing contacts and good neighborly relations between Russia and Georgia in the complicated conditions of political confrontation of the two countries. According to the common opinion now it is necessary to overcome “image of enemy”, build humanitarian relations despite the political situation.

Participants decided that it is impossible to forget all good which connected Russia and Georgia during the joint history. And today there should be found points of contact of the two nations. Women-peacemakers decided that they should establish cooperation in several directions:

-  work in the sphere of culture,

- journalistic exchange programmes,

- economics,

- education,

- youth’s policy.

At the conference there was elaborated a specific Action Plan which will become the basis for further peacemaking process. Women agreed to meet regularly in the future and work on concrete humanitarian projects in Russia and Georgia.

                                         Memorandum

   We – participants of the meeting of Georgian and Russian women, held on December 4-6, 2009 in Tbilisi are starting dialogue, the main objective of which is restoration of confidence between nations. Participants of the meeting are deeply concerned of the strain and gap growing between our countries which have strengthened since military actions in August 2008. Someone should make the first step. To do this we – women initiated creation of an Alliance “Dialogue of Georgian and Russian Women” and elaborated number of humanitarian initiatives. We hope that interested citizens and organizations will join us and support our striving for peace and values common for all mankind.

Participants of the meeting:

Alexandra Shtaiert, Interregional Public Organisation “Federation of University Women” (Moscow)

Alla Bejentseva, NGO- Union of Russian Women in Georgia “Iaroslavna”, Chairperson (Tbilisi)

Alla Gamakharia, NGO Fund “Sukhumi”, Chairperson (Kutaisi)

Anastasia Ermolaeva, “Women Crisis Centre”, Director (Nijni Novgorod)

Valentina Cherevatenko, Regional organization Union of Don Women, Chairperson-coordinator (Rostov District)

Viktoria Ivlieva, journalist “Novaia gazeta” (Moscow)

Galina Petriashvili, Association of journalists “GenderMediaCaucasus”, President (Tbilisi)

Daredjan Odilavadze, NGO Union of teachers-trainers “Lampari”, Chairperson (Tbilisi)

Ludmila Shepelenko, Regional organization Union of Don Women, Coordinator of peacemaking programmes (Rostov on Don) Liana Beria, Association “Consent” (Tbilisi)

Manana Mebuke, NGO “Union of wives of invalids and lost warriors”, Chairperson (Tbilisi)

Marina Tabukashvili, Fund “TASO”, Director General (Tbilisi)

Mashar Aidamirova, writer, public figure (Grozni)

Meri Gelashvili, NGO Fund of Women-Entrepreneurs, Chairperson (Kutaisi)

Nanuli Ramishvili, NGO “Union of teachers”, Chairperson (Kutaisi)

Olga Bessolova, Interregional Public Organization “Federation of University Women”, President (Moscow)

Olga Kondrashova, journalist, Don TV (Rostov on Don)

Svetlana Svistunova, journalist (Moscow)

Eka Pkhakadze, journalist, TV Imedi (Kutaisi)

Elvira Gorukhina, journalist “Novaia gazeta” (Moscow)

Julia Kharashvili, Association of internally displaced women “Consent”, Chairperson (Tbilisi)