Inbound Exchange from Tbilisi, capital city of the Republic of Georgia |
As you all know, the Republic of Georgia has had significant turmoil in the past
months. The area known as South Ossetia, home to many people of Russian descent,
was a center of fighting between Georgian and Russian troops. The people of the Friendship Force of Tbilisi have been unable to obtain visas to enter the US, in spite of their best efforts, and the efforts of Friendship Force International. They had planned to visit Dayton in June, then in September, and most recently asked if we could accommodate them in November. It is uncertain, and highly unlikely, that they will be able to obtain visas for any visit in the near future, even though at the time of this writing, Russian troops are pulling out of South Ossetia. The people of the Friendship Force of Tbilisi have initiated a program to provide aid to the people of South Ossetia, many of whom have been displaced from their homes and are essentially refugees in their own country. Please visit www.gefriendshipforce.org.ge to get further information. Please keep the people of the Republic of Georgia, and the Tbilisi Friendship Force members, in your thoughts and prayers. |