7 July 2005

Press Center
Office of the Ombudsman of Georgia
11 Machabeli Street,
Tbilisi 0105, Georgia
Tel: (995 32) 92 24 79/80
Fax: (995 32) 92 24 70
Mobile: (995 77) 50 52 30
E-mail: info@ombudsman.ge

Council of Religions Approved its Charter

On July 5th, the Office of the Ombudsman of Georgia hosted the first meeting
of the Council of Religions. Representatives of the different confession
united in the Council discussed the points of the proposed charter in
details and elaborated the final Charter. It was noted, that the Charter had
been elaborated based on the Memorandum and the Council itself will follow
the main principles of the Memorandum.

Particular attention was paid to the article dealing with accepting new
members. It was noted, that as the Council itself was established following
the initiative of the Ombudsman of Georgia and functions under the
Ombudsman, all other religious organization wishing to unite in the Council
should address the Ombudsman for recommendations.

`We gathered here following the invitation of the Ombudsman of Georgia and
thus we trust him’, – noted the representative of Seventh Day Adventist
Church Emzar Chrichikashvili.

Ombudsman of Georgia should ensure that the Council acts according to the
Georgian Constitution and Georgian legislation. Thus it is his
responsibility to find out that a religious organization wishing to become a
member of the Council does not carry out activities breaching the
Constitution of Georgia.

`Participation of the Ombudsman of Georgian in the Religions Council creates
favorable conditions for coordinated and effective implementation of
social-humanitarian, educational and human rights activities for the
representatives of different conditions and promotes dialogue among them’, –
said the representative of the Ombudsman of Georgia Beka Mindiashvili who
led the meeting.

According to the Charter, representatives of each confession united in the
Council and the Ombudsman have only one vote, however, number of
participants during meetings and discussions is not limited.

On July 5th, Armenian Apostolic Church, Yezidi Union and a branch of the
evangelic Church `Lord’s Embassy’ became the members of the Council.

The participants of the meeting expressed willingness to actively cooperate
with the `Council for the Support of the State Development’ under the Office
of the Patriarch of Georgia.

Head of Armenian Apostolic Church Vazgen Mirzakhanian invited Head of
Freedom and Equality Division of the Office of Ombudsman Beka Mindiashvili
and Secretary of the Council of Religions Elene Nodia to his residence. The
archbishop promised to fully support the work of the Council and noted, that
the Ombudsman significantly contributes to promotion of religious freedom
and tolerance in the country.

Press Center of the Office of the Ombudsman of Georgia