On April 30, the Public Defender, the Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office and the Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sports concluded a memorandum of cooperation.       
 
The parties hope that the memorandum will make the relations between the agencies systematic and contribute to civil integration and protection of the rights of national minorities. 
 
The preparation and future implementation of the memorandum was provided by the National Concept for Tolerance and Civil Integration as well as by the five-year Action Plan adopted by the government of Georgia on May 8, 2008. The Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office and, accordingly, the national minorities of Georgia will get involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the Concept and the Action Plan.
 
At the meeting, the Public Defender pointed out that representatives of practically all ethnicities living in Georgia were represented in the Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office, and it would be interesting and informative for the Ministry to cooperate with people who enjoy respect and wield certain influence in their diasporas. “We think that the conclusion of this memorandum will make the cooperation between us more regular and fruitful,” declared George Tugushi.
 
After the signing of the memorandum, the Ministry of Culture, Monument Protection and Sports presented its program for supporting the cultures of national minorities.
 
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The Public Defender and the Council of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office have already signed similar memorandums of cooperation with the Office of the State Minister for Reintegration, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure.
 
In the nearest future, the Public Defender will sign memorandums of cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Refugees and Accommodation.   
 
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The activities of the Council of National Minorities are carried out with the support of the UN Development Program and the European Center for Minority Issues. 

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