Embassy of the United States

2008 Embassy Events

A/S Fried tours war damaged buffer zone

On Sunday October 19 A/S Fried traveled to the so-called "buffer zone," Georgian territory north of the town of Gori that had been behind Russian checkpoints and out of reach to western officials and media until Russian withdrawal prior to October 10. This was the first high level visit to the zone and was widely covered in the Georgian media. Fried viewed Russian war damage first hand and met Georgian villagers who continue to suffer at the hands of South Ossetian irregular forces. He talked to a man who had been kidnapped and held for six hours by irregulars as well as to farmers who are receiving support from USAID and other western donors to rebuild their farming operations. Fried traveled with Embassy staff and pool cameras.