Open World Program For Georgians Begins In Georgia, U.S.A.
A group of four lawyers representing the Georgian Bar Association visited Atlanta, Georgia from March 3-10, 2007 for a week long program on the Rule of Law. The group, which included Mr. Kakha Aslanishvili, Head of the Georgian Bar Association, Mr. Zviad Gabisonia, Managing Partner of law firm “Gabisonia & Partners”, Mr. Giorgi Turazashvili, Managing Partner of law firm “Turazashvili and Partners” and Mr. Vakhtang Mtchedlishvili, Director of the “Legal Center”, was hosted by Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover (H/B/S/S), a leading law firm. U.S. Embassy Tbilisi Cultural Affairs Assistant Sophie Bzishvili served as facilitator for the group’s visit. Mr. Tom Bertrand, Executive Director of the National Peace Foundation, in cooperation with the Emory University Law School, designed and implemented the Rule of Law program in Atlanta. Lawyers of H/B/S/S, John E. Hall, David Ladner, Mark Perry and Shaun Daugherty kindly provided home hospitality to the delegates of the Open World program.
In 2006 Georgia was officially added to the list of expansion countries for the Open World Program. Open World is the only exchange program of the U.S. legislative branch, and annual funding is provided by Congress.
Prior to a visit to Atlanta, the Rule of Law group delegates attended a two-day orientation session in Washington DC, where they had an opportunity to visit the U.S. Department of State and meet with Ms. Elizabeth Rood, the Office Director of EUR/CARC and Mr. Sasha Kasanof, the Deputy Director of EUR/CARC. They also met with Mr. Ken Myers III, Minority Staff Director of the U.S. Committee on Foreign Relations and discussed issues pertaining to Georgia-U.S. relations, a U.S. – Georgia free trade agreement, Georgia’s integration into NATO, etc.
While in Atlanta, Georgian lawyers had a unique opportunity to attend a court hearing at the Georgia Court of Appeals and meet with justices of the Supreme Court of Georgia. The delegates’ professional program in Atlanta also included visits to the Georgia State Bar, Emory University Law School, and McKenna Long & Aldridge Law Firm. Georgian lawyers cited meetings at Hall, Booth, Smith & Slover and discussions at the Emory University Law School as being some of the most productive and beneficial for their professional growth.
The Georgian lawyers enjoyed an Atlanta city tour, visits to CNN Headquarters and the Georgia Aquarium. They also had a marvelous chance to attend an NBA game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Washington Wizards, where Zaza Pachulia, Georgian player for the Atlanta Hawks, gained his highest scores. Georgian lawyers were also particularly pleased and honored to be guests at a reception hosted by Dr. Ken Walker, who is a Professor of Medicine at Emory University and an honorary citizen of the country of Georgia.
In addition to the Rule of Law program, Open World implemented a second program for Georgia which concentrated on issues of local governance. The program was carried out during the same time period in Chicago, Illinois. |
