Representatives of International Republican Institute Will Attend Elections of Delegates of Qurultay As Observers

03 April 2013

The First Vice Chairman of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people Refat Chubarov met in Crimea with the CEO of the Program of the International Republican Institute in Ukraine Mr Michael Drakman.

The meeting was also attended by the Head of the Central election commission of Qurultay Zair Smedlyaev and Head of the Department of foreign relations Ali Hamzin, as well as the heads of the Regional Programs of IRI Alexander Sputay and Constantin Plosky.

In the beginning of the meeting Refat Chubarov told about the history of the Crimean Tatar national movement, about the Second Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people, about the activity of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people, the coming elections of the delegates of Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people and proposed the representatives of IRI to attend the elections of the delegates of the national convention as the international observers.

Michael Drakman confirmed his participation in the elections of the delegates of Qurultay as an observer and inquired about the criteria of the elections.

“We’ve never attended such kind of elections, but its is very interesting for us and we’ll be happy to help you,”- Mr Drakman noted and asked the representatives of Mejlis: “Would you like me to talk with the representatives of other international organizations, as soon as I’ll get back to Kyiv, to be observers in the process of the elections of Qurultay of the Crimean Tatar people”.

The Head of the Central election commission of Qurultay Zair Smedlyaev in his turn thanked the guests for their readiness to cooperate.

During the meeting Michael Drakman also informed about the topical focus groups, held recently in Crimea, where one of the respondents were young Crimean Tatars. The CEO of the Program of the International Republican Institute suggested the representatives of Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people to hold the same survey for them.

In conclusion of the meeting the parties expressed their hope for the further efficient cooperation