Republic of Georgia Delegation Heads to Cumming

The Georgia-to-Georgia Foundation has selected retired U.S. Army Col. Dennis Brown to host a delegation from the Republic of Georgia that will visit Cumming in May as part of the Library of Congress' Open World Program, according to a news release.

Brown, a Republican candidate for the District 2 seat on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and a member of Georgia-to-Georgia, will meet with the delegation at his campaign headquarters at Brannon Office Park in Cumming on Tuesday, May 1 at 2 p.m.

"I have visited Tbilisi several times and love the people of Georgia," Brown said. "The Georgian people are resilient and love freedom. It is my distinct honor to host their delegation and discuss the nuts and bolts of running a local election campaign."

The delegation hopes to learn more about creating accountable governance through election reform and campaign financing in preparation for the Republic's 2013 election.

Brown has visited the Republic five times since the fall of the Berlin wall and has a great respect for the people and their culture.

"The Georgian people provide a great example of a taking control of future destiny and molding the future in a positive way," he said. "They have established a very successful government and continue to improve in the rule of law, governance, democratic principles, and many of the systems and processes that make America great. I have met President Mikheil Saakashvili and have the greatest respect for him and what he has accomplished during the difficult post-Soviet era in Georgia."

The visiting delegation includes:

• Giorgi Kekelishvili (Auditor, Chamber of Control),
• Nina Khatiskatsi (Program Director, Transparency International),
• Lela Taliuri (Election Project Coordinator, Georgian Young Lawyers Association),
• Maia Tsiklauri (Reporter, "Liberali", LLC),
• Nato Zaalishvili (General Counsel, Georgian Chamber of Control),
• Tinatin Museridze (Senior Administrative/Financial Manager, Georgia Branch Office of the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs).

The Open World program assists Congress in its oversight responsibilities and conducting exchanges that establish lasting professional relationships between the up-and-coming leaders of Open World countries and the U.S.

The Georgia-to-Georgia Foundation is an Atlanta-based non-profit organization dedicated to implementing development in the Republic of Georgia by facilitating cultural, political, and economic exchange between the State of Georgia and the Republic of Georgia.

Editor's Note: Cumming Patch is not affiliated with nor endorses any candidate running for public office.