The Chair of the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee, Beka Odisharia participated in the Diaspora Week events in the USA dedicated to the Independence Day of Georgia (May 22-27).

On May 23, B. Odisharia met with the Heads of the Diaspora Organizations of the USA and the UN missions in the UN Headquarters and deliberated on the EU and NATO integration of Georgia, as well as the problems that Diasporas encounter.

On May 25, the Green Bowling Park in Manhattan hosted the ceremony of hoisting the Flag of Georgia on the occasion of the Independence Day, organized by the Consulate General of Georgia in New York.

B. Odishara addressed the attendees, congratulated them on this prominent day and dwelt on the importance of the Georgian Diaspora for the development of the statehood; he highlighted the complicated path of immigrants stating that the USA is a key strategic partner and friend to Georgia. He underlined that he is the direct descendant of Giorgi Pitava (nickname “Sandro Barateli”) – a founder of the First Diaspora Organization in the USA and the representative of the historical Georgian immigration to France.

He thanked the Georgian Diaspora calling them the goodwill ambassadors in the enhancement of the USA-Georgia relations. He expressed his gratitude to the diplomatic missions of Georgia for organizing the event and taking care of the Diaspora members.

B. Odisharia extended his sincere gratitude to the Orthodox Church of Georgia and the Catholic-Patriarch of All Georgia, Ilia II for the particular care for the Georgian Diaspora, and delivered the gift - the crosses blessed by the Patriarch to the Diaspora members.

“Georgia accessed the UN in 1992 and the Georgian Flag flies proudly in the UN Headquarters. I believe the day will come when our powerful and beautiful Flag will be peacefully hoisted again at the place it belongs to – Sokhumi and Tskhinvali”, - he stated.