WAC Executive Secretary Inar Gitsba summed up the results of his working visit to the Republic of Turkey.
Said Bargandzhia
Seven councils of the local branch of the World Abaza Congress were opened in Turkish cities during a visit to the Republic of Turkey of the Executive Secretary of the WAC Inar Gitsba. The councils were opened during working meetings with the leaders of the Abkhaz cultural centers of the Turkish cities of Istanbul, Inegel, Izmit, Eskisehir, Bilejik, Bursa and Sakarya.
According to Gitsba, representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza Diaspora living in Turkey attended the same meetings.
“I spoke in detail about the goals and objectives of the WAC, informed [the participants in the meetings] about the roadmap for strengthening the ties of the world Abkhaz-Abaza family, about the instructions of the Chairman of the SC WAC, Mussa Ekzekov, regarding the process of implementing nationally oriented projects. We spoke in detail about the activities of the WAC, implemented both in the territory of Abkhazia and Russia, and in the countries of the Middle East, where our Diaspora resides. We discussed in detail the work plans of the Congress in Turkey,” said Inar Gitsba.
He noted that the participants in the meetings expressed an active interest, which resulted in the opening of local councils.
Following the meetings, representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza Diaspora had the opportunity to join the Congress. About 70 people filled in applications on the spot, there were those who filled out the application for joining the WAC online on the official website of the Congress.
The leaders of the Abkhaz cultural centers of Turkish cities, in turn, at the meetings noted the importance of the active work of the World Abaza Congress in Turkey.
“We have cultural centers, there is a Federation [of Abkhaz cultural centers]. We know the history of the creation of the Congress and were very happy that the Congress has now reached Turkey. We will include several people from our city. We know that there are representative offices of the WAC not only here, but also in Russia, Egypt, and other countries. We are glad about it. There will be more contacts, we will establish new contacts, things will go well,” said, in particular, the Chairman of the Abkhaz cultural center of the city of Eskisehir Turgai Ashuba.
Selim Sangulia, the elder of the center from another Turkish city, Inegel, emphasized that the main task of the entire Abkhaz-Abaza ethnic group is unity.
“Everyone who knows us (Abkhaz and Abaza - ed.) is envious of our unity and desire for unity, and this is one of our features. Today’s meeting will once again show the whole world our desire for unity, therefore I express my great gratitude to you that having left your families, you came to us to carry out such a significant task,” said Sangulia.
As part of a working visit to the Republic of Turkey, the Executive Secretary of the WAC, Inar Gitsba, also met with the Consul General of the Russian Federation in Turkey, Andrey Buravov. The meeting was part of the good practice of holding consultations with the leadership of the diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation in the countries of compact residence of the Abkhaz-Abaza Diaspora.
“I informed the Consul General in detail about the activities of the WAC in Turkey, highlighting the Congress’s desire to strengthen Abkhaz-Abaza relations, contacts, preserving ethnocultural values, and paying attention to areas such as sports and healthcare, family and children,” said Inar Gitsba.
They also discussed a wide range of issues on the international activities of the WAC, including the work of the WAC in Egypt and Jordan, where “visits also included meetings with the diplomatic missions of Russia”.
According to Inar Gitsba, the Consul General of the Russian Federation expressed confidence that the Russian diplomatic missions in Turkey are always ready to support the activities of the World Abaza Congress.
The WAC Executive Secretary also met with students from Abkhazia who study in Turkey. Inar Gitsba called this communication “an interested exchange of views on issues of student life and the educational process.” In a conversation with young people, Gitsba, in his words, emphasized the importance of applying the acquired knowledge in practice after studies already at home.
“Communication with students was held, as it should have been — easily and unofficially,” concluded Inar Gitsba.
The program of his trip also included a visit to the cultural center under construction in the city of Sakarya (Chairman of the Supreme Council of the World Abaza Congress Mussa Ekzekov previously allocated $ 15,000 for the construction of the building of the Abkhaz cultural center in the Turkish city of Sakarya - ed.).
“The construction of the center is in an active stage. A frame has already been erected under the roof,” Gitsba said.
The Executive Secretary of WAC Inar Gitsba paid a working visit to the Republic of Turkey from October 5 to 13. WAC regularly carries out business trips to the countries of residence of the Abkhaz-Abaza Diaspora. As part of the visits, meetings are held with the Abkhaz-Abaza community, where representatives of the WAC talk about the work of the Congress, the goals and plans of the WAC, and discuss possible ways of mutual cooperation. This work is generally aimed at achieving one of the main goals of the Congress - to unite representatives of the Abkhaz-Abaza Diaspora from around the world.
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