The President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), Mr. Andrew A. Athens concluded on October 22 his visit at the Republics of Georgia and Armenia, where he participated at the inauguration ceremonies of renovations projects conducted by SAEοΏ½s Primary Health Care Initiative through funding provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Five of the eight clinics are cited at the area of Tsalka, Georgia.
The President of the Republic of Georgia, Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili met with SAE President on October 20 in Tbilisi and expressed the gratitude of the people of Georgia for SAEοΏ½s valuable work. Mr. Saakashvili noted the importance of the offering of Medical Care by SAEοΏ½s Medical Centers and discussed the intention of the Georgian Government to offer land to SAE for the construction of a second Medical Center in Tbilisi.
The Georgian President mentioned the need for further development of the relations among Greece and Georgia, and noted the hard working nature of Hellenes in Georgia and the desire of the Georgian state agencies for the return in Georgia of those Hellenes that have repatriated in Greece.
Mr. Athens reassured Mr. Saakashvili that he and SAE will continue to offer both medical and humanitarian assistance to the people of Georgia.
SAE President discussed with the Georgian President the issue of trespassing of estates that belong to Hellenes who have left for Greece, and Mr. Saakashvili stated that he will personally look into the matter and expressed his interest for the implementation of a micro-enterprise project by SAE in Georgia.
Accompanied by the Medical Director of SAEοΏ½s Medical Program, Dr. Charles Kanakis, Mr. Athens met with the Georgian Ministry of Health, Mr. Lando Tsiposhvili who expressed his gratitude for SAEοΏ½s initiative and requested SAEοΏ½s assistance for a training program on open heart surgeries for Georgian doctors, in order to be able to staff the new hospital in Imareti, West Georgia.
At a common meeting with the Regional Medical Director, Mr. Stamatov and the Directors of the Medical Centers in Ukraine and Armenia, Mr. Lazarenko and Mr. Zaharov, Mr. Athens exchange ideas regarding the programοΏ½s further development and expansion. Especially in Mariupol, Ukraine soon the only mammography unit in the whole area, will begin its operation while the Medical Center οΏ½HippocratesοΏ½ in Tbilisi has been equipped with a high technology cardiac ultrasound.
On October 21 Mr. Athens was in Armenia where in cooperation with USAID, SAE is renovating four health posts and restoring two pipelines in villages that have no fresh water source. The following attended the inauguration of the renovated clinic in Urud village: The Prefect of Vanatzor and other local officials, the Advisor of the Greek Embassy in Tbilisi, Mr. Alamanos, the President of the Federation of Hellenic Communities of Armenia, Mr. Theofanou and many local citizens. 
During his stay in Tbilisi had a series of meetings with the Greek Ambassador, Ms. Mavroskelidou and the US Ambassador to Georgia, Mr. Richard Miles, whom he informed of SAEοΏ½s projects and programs in the countries of the Black Sea. Mr. Athens also met with the President of the Federation of Hellenic Associations of Georgia, Mr. Kyriakos Iordanidis, businessmen and with representatives of the Jewish Community of Georgia who thanked him for the offering of medical care to Jewish families.
Finally, Mr. Athens had a series of meetings with local representatives from Counterpart International and International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), two of the many humanitarian organizations that SAE collaborates with regarding the PHCI.
SAE President traveled on October 24 with the official Greek delegation headed by President Stefanopoulos to Alexandria, Egypt where he attended the Enthronement of the Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Theodoros BοΏ½.   Mr. Stefanos Tamvakis, SAE Alternate President, Mr. Vassilis Magdalinos, SAE Vice President οΏ½ SAE Asia-Africa Regional Coordinator and Dr. Olga Sarantopoulou, SAE Secretary also attended the enthronement.
In the meeting that Mr. Athens had with His Beatitude the Pope & Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa, Theodoros BοΏ½, he had the opportunity to congratulate him on behalf of the SAE Board and of the Omogeneia, wished him strength in the significant work that he undertook, and he assured him that SAE will support his efforts.
During his stay in Alexandria, the President of SAE met with Mr. Vassilis Magdalinos, SAE Vice President, SAE Asia-Africa Regional Coordinator and the members of the Regional Coordinating Council of Asia-Africa who informed him about their meeting on October 22 & 23, 2004.