08.2005 - Source: European Centre for Minority Issues

ECMI: Bericht zur demographischen Situation von Meschketen in der Türkei ("Finding Durable Solutions for the Meshketians; A Presentation of Preliminary Findings and a Roundtable Discussion with Government and Civil Society Actors in Georgia") [#39119],  [ID 13791]

"STATISTICS:

- About 35,000 Meskhetian Turks reside in the country. Their main locations are:

• Bursa – approx. 20,000
• Antalya – approx. 4,000
• Istanbul – approx. 3,420
(Approximate estimations of the Meskhetian Turk Associations)

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS: After the fall of the USSR, Meskhetian Turks began to move to Turkey and, in July 1992, Law 3835 was passed to assist with their migration to Turkey. The Turkish government financed the resettlement of 500 families. However, changes to policies related to Meskhetian Turks were initiated with the new government in 2002.

Citizenship has been given to 50% of the population and those who are in Turkey illegally are not expelled. Meskhetian Turks are currently concentrated in Bursa, Antalya and Istanbul. They have integrated well – there is family/communal solidarity, as well as solidarity with the local population. Group identity also plays an active role in the community. As such, Meskhetian Turks in Turkey have rejected the idea of repatriation to Georgia if they have to give up their ‘Turkishness’. Moreover, migration to Georgia has lost significance compared with the Turkish option, and they view migration to the United States as a third deportation. Although, the idea of Georgia as a ‘homeland’ is not widely accepted, there continues to be ideas of their old villages as ‘home’.
Given the family unification and psychological problems, Meskhetian Turks in Turkey will not go to Georgia, and it is felt that they should not be forced to undertake another migration."

Document(s): Open document

04.02.2005 - Source: Council of Europe - Parliamentary Assembly

Report on situation of Meskhetian population (areas of concern, prospects for future) ("The situation of deported Meskhetian population [Doc. 10451]") [#33352],  [ID 13796]

Document(s): Open document