Maikop to host Congress of Circassians of Adygea to discuss status of Syrian compatriots

Maikop began preparations for the Congress of the Circassian nation of the Republic of Adygea. On January 22, the decision to convene the Congress was adopted at the extraordinary meeting of the Board of the Public Movement "Adyge-Khase Circassian Parliament" of the Republic of Adygea. The Congress is scheduled for February 11. The main agenda item will be the position of the Circassians of Syria and measures to assist them in connection with the aggravated situation in the country.

Besides, the Board of the Public Movement "Adyge-Khase Circassian Parliament" of Adygea addressed a proposal to the Movement "Adyge-Khase" of Kabardino-Balkaria to hold a congress of Circassians with the same agenda.

The proposal to convene Congress was addressed to the Public Movement "Adyge-Khase Circassian Parliament" of the Republic of Adygea by Ilyas Soobtsokov, the head of the regional Adyg public organization for revival of national traditions of Adyg (Circassian) nation "Adyge-Khase".

"The need for the Congress is to express the position of the nation on the issue of assistance to our compatriots in a difficult situation. We also intend to express our appreciation of the Russian society, which quickly responded to the need to return Syrian Circassians to their homeland," Ilyas Soobtsokov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

He has added that solution of the issue to resettle Syrian Circassians to Russia delayed.

"The US aircraft carrier has already approached Iran. Syria could become a bargaining chip, and then the evacuation of our compatriots will hardly be possible. We should better take steps to resettle them now," Ilyas Soobtsokov has emphasized.

"In total, the authorities of Russia and Adygea received three requests from the Syrian Circassians. About 300 persons asked permission to return to their homeland. And it should not be a problem we can negotiate with Turkey and other countries for the transit," Ilyas Soobtsokov believes.

Mukhamed Ashev, Deputy Chairman of the State Council the Khase of Adygea, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that no official response of the Russia's leadership to the appeal of the Republic's Parliament, asking to provide assistance in resettlement of Circassians from Syria to the Russian Federation had been received yet.