Representatives of Abkhazian NGOs are visiting Karabakh

Representatives of Abkhazian NGOs are visiting Karabakh

27-05-2007 13:23:22 – KarabakhOpen

The leaders of the NGOs of Karabakh met with the representatives of
the Center for Humanitarian Programs Batal Kobakhia and Liana
Kvarchelia from Abkhazia at the Resource Center of Stepanakert. The
meeting was organized within the framework of the program of
Stepanakert Resource Center funded by International Alert.

The renowned Abkhazian civil society activists will stay in Karabakh
until May 30 and will hold meetings and seminars with the civil
society activists of Karabakh.

During the meeting on Saturday Batal Kobakhia and Liana Kvarchelia
told about the role of the civil society and NGOs in the political
life of the country. Recently Mr. Kobakhia has been elected to
parliament and he is now the only independent member of the Abkhazian
parliament. `Our goal is not to support one party or another but
protect human rights and freedoms, watch honoring of laws, no matter
what these laws are. And if we dislike the laws, we go to the
parliament and lobby new laws,’ Batal Kobakhia said.

Collaboration of Abkhazian and Karabakh NGOs has long history but is
not as active as it should be. Although collaboration would be useful
to mutual support and exchange of experience. `This is my first visit
to Karabakh and I was amazed that the post-war reconstruction is
almost over. In our country it is not so. There has been some progress
recently, but the situation is different, ‘ Liana Kvarchelia said. At
the same time, it was emphasized that in terms of civil control and
influence on the government’s actions the NGOs of Karabakh have more
advantages over the Karabakh NGOs. Although in Karabakh too efforts
were made to express a civil stance and convey it to the society.