Ms. Allisandra Cummins President of ICOM On behalf of ICOM Georgia let me express many thanks to you for your attention and encouragement and for your sympathy to the victims of recent conflict within Georgia. The situation in our country is very strained because the war has begun in South Ossetia, what is the historical part of Georgia, it destroyed villages and Monuments of Cultural Heritage and the museums also were in danger. I know that you are informed about everything by Disaster Relief Task Force (DRTF) particularly by Mr. Thomas Schuler, to whom we express great thanks for his comprehension and support. Unfortunately, the war is continuing at present and we don?t have more information than you have from DRFM Report by Mr. Thomas Schuler ( <http://georgia.drfm.info/> http://georgia.drfm.info). We can say that Didi LIakhvi Gorge Museum-reserve (in village Kurta) and Ivane Matchabeli House Museum in village Tamarasheni are destroyed by bombs and in fact, they aren?t at present. The same is with the Monuments of Cultural Heritage (medieval centuries) in Tskhinvali and Gori districts (Kurta, Eredvi, Kekhvi, Tamarasheni etc.). We aren?t able to determine the level of damages yet because nobody can get into this Region and until war stops we aren?t able to do the monitoring. We have and will have regular contact with Mr. Thomas Schuler and we will inform him with all latest news about situation of Georgian Museums in battle zones. As soon as we have accurate information we will inform ICOM and Disaster Relief Task Force. I will help ICOM DRTF for sure to make contacts with museums and museum personnel in the affected region in order to help them to recover. ICOM Georgia will gather other information that helps ICOM and a Disaster Relief Task Force to develop an accurate picture of the situation and to establish what is needed. I'd like to express my personal and all members of ICOM Georgia?s many thanks to you, ICOM and ICOM DRFM and also ICOM Europe, ICOM Poland, ICOM Germany, ICOM Armenia for encouragement and comprehension. Yours sincerely, Inga Karaia ICOM National Committee in Georgia, Chair Chief Specialist of the Department Museums & Collection, Ministry of Culture, Monuments Protection and Sport of Georgia 4, Sanapiro Str., 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: (+995 32) 990 285 Fax:(+995 32) 985 734 E-mail: [log in to unmask] www.georgianmuseums.ge (in process) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Change ICOM-L subscription options, unsubscribe, and search the archives at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/icom-l.html