Istanbul/Agency Caucasus – On 17-18 June an International symposium ‘North Caucasia’ took place in Istanbul and declaration of symposium was declared to public opinion.
Symposium started with exhibition ‘Caucasia in Ottoman records’. During the exhibition Fethi Gungor gave an explanation about the features of Ottoman records and documents about Caucasia. Fethi Gungor stated that there are 32 documents in the exhibition and emphasized that they mostly concentrated on the documents about Dagestan and especially Imam Shamil. His explanation was translated to Russian by Murad Davudov.
Journalist of newspaper ‘Radikal’ Fehim Tashtekin stated that ethnic tensions in Caucasia and bribery, corruption and favoritism that widely seen in regions’ administrations reduce the possibility of Caucasians to live together. He said that the chosen place for Olympics (Kbaada valley where Shapsug massacre took place) feeds the idea of Circassia and Russia, which is in need of stability to be able to hold the Olympics, is seeking for civil solutions but unless siloviks’ approach changes, apparently it’s not possible to wait for a result.
During his presentation representative of Georgia’s Ministry of Diaspora Zaza Tsurtsumia reminded Russian chief commander Romanov’s words (We should act bravely to completely clean Black sea shore) and gave information about the deportation.
Prof.Dr. Nadir Devlet from Istanbul Commerce University highlighted Ahmet Tsalikati’s important role among Russian Muslims during the 1917 revolution.
About recognition of Circassian Genocide by Georgia Assistant Prof. Dr. Fethi Gungor, one of the moderators of third session named ‘Administrative structure in Caucasia’, said: “Georgia’s recognition of Genocide, subjected to Circassians by Russians is admirable. Dudayev’s rhetoric was close to Georgian leaders’. According to a political model named ‘Caucasian House’ he was arguing unity and solidarity of all Caucasian people. But we should say that there are people both in Caucasia and in Diaspora who have doubts about this recognition. As a matter of fact Georgian policies towards Abkhazia and South Osetia cast a suspicion on admirable policies of Gerorgia”.
After the workshop at the end of presentations a declaration of 22 articles were declared.
