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HUMANITARIAN AID
Press Release
Chicago, 10/6/2005

The President of the World Council of Hellenes Abroad (SAE), Mr. Andrew A. Athens expressed his satisfaction on the decision of the President of the Republic of Georgia, Mr. Saakashvili to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and human rights of our fellow Hellenes living in the area of Tsalka, Georgia.
In his letter to SAE President, the Minister of Interior of the Republic of Georgia, Mr. Ivan Merabishvili, informs Mr. Athens that by the order of the Georgian President he has �personally undertaken the responsibility for the coordination and management of the crisis in Tsalka�, and ensures him that the political and state leadership of the country supports the peaceful co-existence of citizens of Georgian, Hellenic or any other descent while he notes that �any problems created by misunderstandings should be immediately solved�.
The Georgian Minister of Interior also mentions that a special unit has been sent to the area to ensure peace and safety, while more than 20 criminals have been arrested and are about to be trialed for assaults against Hellenes. Moreover approximately 30 cases of robbery of abandoned homes owned by Hellenes have been reported, while more than 50 accused individuals have been taken into custody.
In order for this situation to be settled as soon as possible, the Georgian Minister requested from Mr. Athens to suggest one special advisor of Hellenic descent who will act as a coordinator among the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Georgia and SAE on issues relevant to the Hellenic Community and the fast resolving of various disputes. SAE President suggested Mr. Kyriakos Iordanidis, President of the Federation of Hellenic Communities of Georgia and SAE representative for Georgia, for the position of the special advisor, since he is already in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior for various issues and problems of the Hellenic Community.  
In the frame of these developments and following the coordinated interventions towards the Georgian authorities, Mr. Athens expresses his optimism for the normalization of the situation in the Hellenic Villages of Tsalka, and states that he will personally continue to keep a close eye on the developments until peace returns to the area.
In his reply letter to the Minister of Interior, SAE President expresses his gratitude for the immediate response and mentions among others the following:
�Your intended actions will demonstrate your concern for Hellenes living in Tsalka and will restore our faith that these serious violations of human rights and acts of terrorism have not gone unheeded. It is important for all of us that we succeed in our efforts to ensure the human rights of Hellenes living in Georgia. �
Especially during the last two years Hellenes in Tsalka have been living under a status of terrorism due to organized attacks by Atzarians and Svania from west Georgia. The approximately 1700 Hellenic families that are left have been facing serious security problems as well as problems regarding the safeguarding of their own property. Violent acts have led to eight brutal murders.
Beyond SAE�s President personal meetings with Georgian leadership, he has also launched an informational campaign for the promotion of the issue around the world.
On the initiative of Mr. Athens, SAE�s Medical Program was launched in Georgia in 1997. Today through SAE�s Medical Centers in Tbilisi, Tsalka and Tsiktsivari, the mobile medical unity program and nurses� stations in more than 40 villages in Georgia, approximately 25000 Georgians of all ethnic backgrounds receive free medical care every month. Since 1997 SAE�s Medical Program has distributed more than $50 million worth of medicines, medical supplies and equipment.
SAE�s future programs include developing microenterprise, small business loan programs especially in Tbilisi and Tsalka, a program that will have a positive impact on the Georgian economy.

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