Turkey pledges support to Meskheti delegation from Georgia—Erdogan
During the meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, Erdogan addressed Ziyatdin Ismihanoglu Kassanov, the organization’s head, and his delegation, emphasizing unity and solidarity. “May God preserve our unity and solidarity,” he said.
Referring to the forced deportation of Ahiska Turks during the Soviet era, Erdogan stated, “We are closely following the issue of our Ahiska brothers’ return to their homeland and acquisition of citizenship.” He added that Türkiye continues to advocate for their rights “both bilaterally and through international organizations such as the Council of Europe and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS).”
The president commended the community’s cohesion and endurance in the face of historical hardship, urging Ahiska Turks around the world to safeguard their language, faith, and identity.
He also encouraged stronger family connections and the transmission of national and spiritual values to younger generations.
Marking the 81st anniversary of the 1944 mass deportation, which displaced nearly 100,000 Ahiska Turks from their ancestral lands, Erdogan described the event as “a lasting wound in our hearts.” He welcomed upcoming plans for an interactive exhibition on the tragedy to be organized with the Foreign Ministry.
Erdogan also outlined Türkiye’s continued humanitarian and administrative assistance for displaced Ahiska Turks, particularly those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. He said that 2,315 people have been temporarily accommodated in public housing in Elazig, with 703 more settled in Bitlis, and that approximately 170,000 have been granted citizenship while over 150,000 have received long-term residence permits.
Kassanov expressed gratitude for the president’s consistent backing, saying that Erdogan “has always stood by the Ahiska Turks.” The delegation presented him with symbolic gifts, including a traditional papakha hat, a khan’s robe, and a calligraphy panel inscribed with the Rabbi Yessir prayer.
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