Ethnic Tensions Ease as a Result of World PresidentοΏ½s Intervention

Chicago January 9, 2006-Since April 2005, Hellenes living in the historic, Hellenic town of Tsalka in the Republic of Georgia, have been experiencing a wave of violence being committed by displaced persons from Ajaria, Azerbaijan and Armenia.  Economic and housing conditions in Tsalka are so poor that people have resorted to theft, vandalism and murder.  There have been 22 Hellenes murdered since this time. Scores of homes have been damaged and taken over by the perpetrators.  However, the situation has improved somewhat as a result of the intervention of Andrew A. Athens, President of the World Council of Hellenes (SAE).
οΏ½Since we learned of the atrocities being committed against Hellenes in Tsalka, we began a letter writing campaign to our congressional leaders, met with leaders in the US Department of State, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Georgia and officials of the Greek Governments,οΏ½ said Andrew Athens.  οΏ½I am pleased to report that our efforts are paying off as the violence has been dramatically reduced,οΏ½ continued Mr. Athens.
As a result of Mr. AthensοΏ½ efforts, the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Georgia has sent a new security force to Tsalka, hired a new Chief of Police and appointed the President of the Hellenic Federation in Georgia to be part of the Georgian MinistryοΏ½s task force in Tsalka.  The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic will soon be sending security cars and radio transmission equipment. The Greek Government also has sent a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and the University of Athens to Tsalka to explore the possibility of implementing a potato seed-growing program.  There have been meetings with officials at the US Embassy in Georgia to discuss the countryοΏ½s Millennium Projects funded by the United States, which are reported to be going toward infrastructure repair projects.
οΏ½The Georgian Government has informed us they are making plans to repair the road from Tsalka to Tbilisi. The road is in such poor condition that the less than 100 kilometer trip, which should take one hour now takes four hours,οΏ½ stated Mr. Athens. οΏ½Once this road is repaired, Tsalka farmers will be able to take their products to markets in Tbilisi and nearby towns.οΏ½
The SAE PresidentοΏ½s Office is developing an economic recovery plan for the Hellenes of Tsalka.  Tsalka has excellent farmland and Mr. Athens is urging Greece to support the potato seed growing program as well as other agricultural projects.  Through the PHCI program, the World Office in Chicago is pursuing private funds to begin a civil society program to help reduce the ethnic tensions in Tsalka.
The PresidentοΏ½s office has co-produced a video about the situation in Tsalka.  To receive a complimentary copy, please contact the World office in Chicago at 312-337-7243.