Informational review.

 

Day two.

 

Second day of the 4th session of Kurultay III began with delegates' speeches. They were devoted to the reports made a day before by Mejlis chairman, Mustafa Dzhemilev and chairman of Revision Commission, Ayder Mustafayev.

After that deputy of the President's Permanent Representative in Crimea, Remzi Hovadji greeted Kurultay delegates and guests in his speech. He reminded that president of Ukraine had adopted several documents aimed at solving Crimean Tatars' problems and said he hoped that decisions and decrees to be passed at this Kurultay session would be of great use and help to Crimean Tatar people.

Farid Akchurin, leader of party of Ukrainian Moslems, made a brief explanation about his plans and wished successful work to Kurultay.

Kurultay delegate Enver Ametov in his speech concerning Mustafa Dzhemilev's report made a strict criticizing about work fulfilled by Mejlis and its leadership. He emphasized that Crimean Tatar people's problems were not solved but got more and more acute year by year. In his opinion, this can be proved by the fact that the Crimean Tatars have been deprived of their representatives in the Crimean parliament. Moreover, most Crimean Tatars have remained with no land in the result of land division, broadcasting time of Crimean Tatar TV programs has been reduced, worship crosses are erected all over Crimea, and beginning of repression against national movement activists (trial in Dzhankoy). Ziya Khalikov and Avva Azamatova also criticized Mejlis and its chairman in their speeches.

Mufty of Crimean Moslems, adji Emir-Ali efendi called everyone to be very cautious in their speeches and actions in order to avoid discord and opposition. He reminded that even KGB failed to do that in the course of many years. Adji Emir-Ali efendi called to respect one's ideals and leaders. He also advised to unite around him and follow a chosen way that will lead people to development and prosperity.

Kurultay guest, Timur Dagdjy emphasized that aggravation of inter-confessional life was evident in Crimea nowadays. He believes that instigators from beyond regions are the only to blame for this. These people having failed to kindle interethnic conflict using some Crimean powers provoke dangerous confrontation of two supreme religions on the peninsula - Moslem and Christianity. Erecting crosses all around Crimea and situation it all has caused attacks towards president Leonid Kuchma are distinctive evidence of activity of such instigators, who are doing their "best" to harm independent Ukraine and Crimea. He called his compatriots to get rid of pessimistic mood and work out a strategy allowing overcoming such instigators together with independent Ukraine.

Refat Chubarov responding critics addressed to Mejlis and its leadership remembered a saying of a famous Crimean Tatar writer, Ismail Gasprinskiy that everyone eager to help his people should begin with something he is able to carry out. He called not to blame only Mejlis and its leader for all problems. We shouldn't blame each other but solve our problems by uniting all efforts. When responding some delegates' speeches blaming only communists for all our problems, Refat Chubarov called everyone to pay attention to what is now going on in Crimea. Even if communist leader, Leonid Grach pretends to do his best to solve Crimean Tatars' problems his actions show opposite. R.Chubarov as well as Timur Dagdji reminded that some powers were trying to kindle inter-confessional conflict in Crimea. And Leonid Grach and his supporters are not innocent of what is now going on in Crimea.

Mejlis chairman, Mustafa Dzhemilev informed that a sitting with participation of Crimean government, Mejlis, religious communities and Crimean security service took place in the Council of Ministers of Crimea on the eve. The sitting was devoted to worsening of the conflict of erecting an orthodox cross in Morskoye village of Sudak district. They had already devoted several meetings on this problem though the conflict wasn't solved. M.Dzhemilev told that the sitting resulted with a compromising decision on this problem; the cross will be erected on the Kumatra mount but in order not to embarrass Moslems they have decided to erect a Moslem symbol in front of it. They have also passed a decision to halt cross erecting in Crimea. And in the future, decisions to erect religious symbolic signs will be made by the Council of Ministers of Crimea but not local authorities. Crimean Tatars that took part in the sitting suggested erecting Crimean Tatar symbolic in front of every cross, which was approved of by the chairman of Crimean government, Sergey Kunitsyn. After that M.Dzhemilev answered questions concerning the "Regulations on electing Kurultay delegates" and the problem related to Crimean Tatar people's self-naming. He touched upon a troublesome situation when the Crimean Tatars have opposite opinions on religion. He noted that many started repudiating our traditional customs and traditions, which leads to serious confrontation among the Crimean Tatars. He said that people that act against their nation and harm it by their actions and opinions were not right. Such people only help our enemies. M.Dzhemilev called to stop development of this situation. It is extremely necessary to unite around Muflty that was elected by people and follow his decisions and decisions made my local imams. Mejlis chairman answered critical remarks, made by some delegates in their speeches. He focused on the fact that every Crimean Tatar and of course Kurultay delegate has to act in accordance with decisions of Kurultay - united and elective session of Crimean Tatar people. At the end of his speech Mustafa Dzhemilev called to think about possible consequences before stating anything. By addressing to the delegates he advised them to constructively work on solution of up-coming aims of Kurultay.

Shevket Kaybullayev presented project of "Regulations on electing Kurultay delegates", developed by the working group of Mejlis. There was an acute discussion on how the elections should be held - directly or proportionally. It also included such questions as whether public-political organizations could take part in elections or not, and if it is obligatory for voters to be citizens of Ukraine and what is the exact number delegates to be elected.

After discussion the majority of delegates voted for taking the project of "Regulations on electing Kurultay delegates" suggested by Mejlis working group as a basis. In the course of a clause-by-clause discussion of the above-mentioned project delegates introduced changes and additions into it. In result, 96 delegates voted for assertion of the project with changes and additions introduced. Central electoral commission of 15 members was elected by rating election.

The next point of Kurultay session agenda related to organizational issues was considering statement of Mejlis member Mamedi Chobanova asking withdrawal. Kurultay delegates satisfied his statement. Various candidatures were suggested for two available positions in Mejlis (Halil Mustafayev left Mejlis membership due to his death). However, majority decided not to conduct elections of two members, taking into consideration number 31 (instead of 33 in accordance with time-limit) when determining Mejlis quorum as there is no much time left till the end of work of Mejlis's current membership.

Mustafa Dzhemilev returned to the issue he had raised before concerning reelecting of Mejlis chairman. However, majority of delegates voted against raising this question to election.

The issue concerning Crimean Tatars' names, surnames and patronymic names was considered after a 15-minite break. Delegate Bekir Mamutov proposed project of Kurultay's Decision related to changes of Crimean Tatar names, surnames and patronymic names in accordance with national customs and traditions. In connection with this decision, they will introduce some changes into names, surnames and patronymic names that will provide a more natural way of names.

Chairman of editorial commission, Nadir Bekirov delivered project resolutions, decisions and addresses of this Kurultay session. In the course of discussion changes and additions were introduced into these documents and then they were adopted. Project of Resolution about Crimean Tatars' condition and repression against it caused a great deal of discussion. However, this document was considered to be the basis and Mejlis was authorized to assert it after correction. Discussion and adopting of Kurultay document was getting over. And after that they considered the last question of agenda - about Crimean Tatars' representatives. The majority of delegates voted for postponing solution of this problem for the next session.

Summing up the work of session, Mejlis chairman Mustafa Dzhemilev addressed to Kurultay delegates asking them to take an active part in the up-coming election campaign and also give a hand in finding activists and patriots, who will have power to influence on the future of our people. He also thanked delegates for constructive and fruitful work despite some differences in opinions on some problems. He wished everyone success and to be active in the up-coming Kurultay IV. M.Dzhemilev wished present delegates to take active part in the National movement and do their best for the happiness of our people.

The head of ecclesiastic leadership of Crimean Moslems, Muftiy of Crimean Moslems adji Emir-Ali efendi again called his compatriots to keep calm and patient, and said a prayer blessing the work of Kurultay.

National Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian state anthems performed in accordance with tradition closed the 4th session of Kurultay III of Crimean Tatar people.

 

 

Dilyara Asanova

Elvedin Chubarov

 

Informational group of "Crimean Tatar initiative" fund.

 

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