The minimum you must know

Georgia is a very small peace-loving country between Turkey and Russia on the Black Sea. Georgia has the lowest crime rate of almost any country globally, according to the government. There are around four million residents there. And the country receives seven million "tourists" per year. Those probably have included deterred Ukrainian migrants who sought residence in Russia, Europe and Asia. However, tourists regularly include countless Turks and Russians, who enjoy seaside areas when the weather is welcoming. Georgia has other industries as well. Throughout the Ukrainian mayhem over the past several years, Georgia was exceedingly well governed, to have one of the fastest growing developing economies in the world - and to remain one of the safest places anywhere.

The country's name is similarly spelled to the U.S. state - perhaps in an effort to gain western acceptance - and pronounced "Gruzia" in the region.

Historically part of the Soviet Union, and therefore traditionally considered Russian, Georgia fully embraced western democratic reforms in the early 1990s after the fall of the Berlin Wall. There was therefore hope in Europe that Georgia might join the union. This met with military intervention from the Russian government who recoiled at the possibility of a NATO presence near Russian homes. Russia maintains substantial influence and probably even full control there today. But the Georgian government is eager for global integration, including into Europe, and remains both a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for European Union Membership. This writer believes peace-loving Georgians should enjoy free and open trading with all sides. As a practical matter, they do today. That's obviously the right thing for everyone to do.

Georgia has avoided involvement in a recent conflict between bordering Armenia and Azerbaijan.

The Prime Minister of Georgia brought up peace several times at the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly. He also demonstrated peaceful persuasion in an equally important way. He excluded inciting vocabulary words entirely - in a linguistically exceptional and very ethical presentation. The Georgian government clearly has advanced friendly diplomacy that can lead to improving relations globally.