GEORGIA
Georgia lies in southwestern Asia, bordering
the Black Sea, between Turkey and
Russia. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th
century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian
revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet
Union dissolved in 1991. Russian troops remain garrisoned at four
military bases and as peacekeepers in the separatist regions of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia (but are scheduled to withdraw from two of the bases
by July 2001). Despite a badly degraded transportation network - brought
on by ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages - the
country continues to move toward a market economy and greater
integration with Western institutions.
Georgia is a newly independent nation,
and while living conditions are improving, they're not yet at the
western standards desired by the government. Tourist facilities outside
of the capital, Tbilisi, are not
highly developed and many of the goods and services taken for granted in
other countries are not yet available. Despite this, and despite an area
in the north of the country being basically off-limits due to separatist
control, terrorist activity and an abundance of land mines, Georgia
presents a proud face to the world. Its culture is ancient and built
around a vast variety of influences; its people are a mix of traditional
and very modern;
