Posted
on August 17, 2008
Current Georgia
Safety & Security Report:
The U.S. Embassy Tbilisi
issued the following Warden Message August 17, 2008:
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi would like to inform American citizens
that fires are currently burning in the forests around Khashuri,
Surami and Borjomi. US citizens currently in the region are advised
to evaluate the situation in their area and to make the appropriate
decision based on their personal situation of whether to leave or to
stay. American citizens in the region are advised to avoid travel on
the highway between Khashuri and Gori and to avoid all travel to the
north and west of Kutaisi. All American citizens in Georgia should
contact the consular section of the US Embassy as soon as possible
if they have not already done so, and advise the consular section on
their current location if they have moved.
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For more information on
flights operating out of both Tbilisi and Batumi, please see the
following website:
http://www.tavgeorgia.com. As flights
departing Tbilisi are expected to be very heavily booked for the
next several days, individuals interested in traveling are urged to
contact travel agents or airlines as soon as possible to prevent any
unnecessary delays.
What help is available to U.S.
citizens in the current situation in Republic of Georgia?
On August 12, 2008, the United
States Department of State (DOS) issued a Travel Warning
recommending that Americans consider carefully the risks of travel
to Georgia.
This Travel Warning updates
information on the current security situation in Georgia. In light
of the continued aerial bombings of civilian and military targets in
several areas of the country, the Department of State warns U.S.
citizens to defer non-essential travel to Georgia and recommends
that all U.S. citizens depart Georgia.
American citizens who remain in
Georgia despite this and earlier warnings are urged to continue to
review their personal security situations, to take appropriate
action to ensure their safety, and should consider relocating to a
safe location. Private Americans are encouraged to follow the
precautions detailed below and to remain in close communication with
the American Embassy in Tbilisi for more detailed information. This
Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning for Georgia issued
August 8, 2008.
On August 10 and 11, two
Embassy-coordinated convoys of American citizens departed Georgia
for Armenia. A third convoy, made up of buses and other vehicles,
is scheduled for Wednesday, August 13. American citizens interested
in joining the convoy should call the consular section at
995-32-27-70-00, ext. 7137 or ext. 7003, or 899-57-39-69.
The
Consular Section of the US Embassy has suspended visa processing at
this time, but is open 24 hours for American Citizens Services until
further notice. Peace Corps temporarily relocated trainees and
volunteers to Armenia on August 11.
The Peace Corps office in
Tbilisi remains open for business. At this time, Embassy personnel
are unable to travel to western Georgia because of the security
situation. American citizens in Georgia are advised to contact the
U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi as soon as possible to register and provide
information on their current situation.
Americans in western Georgia
are advised to depart the country if possible. If safe departure is
not possible, Americans in western Georgia are advised to remain in
place and maintain contact with the consular section of the U.S.
Embassy in Tbilisi pending further guidance.
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American citizens should
monitor the U.S. Embassy website
http://georgia.usembassy.gov
and stay in contact with family and friends in
the United States. American citizens in Tbilisi may also tune in to
Radio Syndicati at FM 104.3 or throughout Georgia at Radio Green
Wave at FM 107.4 for updated U.S. Embassy warden message
information.
Family members and friends
unable to verify the safety and welfare of U.S. citizens in the
affected area should call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United
States and Canada or from other areas via a regular toll line at
1-202-501-4444. U.S. citizens in the area are urged to monitor the
local news. Those residing or traveling in Georgia are reminded to
register with the U.S. Embassy either online at
https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs
or in person at U.S. Embassy Tbilisi so that they can obtain updated
information on travel and security. By registering, American
citizens make it easier for the embassy to contact them in case of
emergency.
The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi is
located at 11 George Balanchine Street (in Didi Dighomi), Tbilisi
0131, Georgia, tel: 995-32-27-70-00. The after-hours emergency
number is 995-99-57-39-69, or, if dialing locally on a mobile
telephone, 899-57-39-69.
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For the latest security
information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor
the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs internet web site at
http://travel.state.gov,
where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Alerts,
Travel Warnings,, Country Specific Information, and health information
resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be
obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or for
callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at
1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
For Information on How to
Protect You, Your Family, Your Employees,
Your Company, and Your Business Abroad,
Contact our experienced Risk Managers
today.
info@internationalriskmanagement.com
877-211-3654
or
559-294-0316
Another Airline Casualty: Aloha Airline
By
JoAnne Green
March 31, 2008
Seeing a decal of a bird of paradise flower on Aloha
Airline’s tail often brought me good memories of good old
days of inter-island hoping during the early 1980s. We, a
bunch of young working college people in Oahu, would get in
line in front of the Aloha Airline counter to get our
tickets to either Maui or Big Island for a 3-day holiday
weekend. We each paid about $US45.00 round trip to
Maui and $US65.00 to
Big
Island. Of
course, we often selected the least busy time of the day to
get such low prices. No advanced reservations needed. We
benefited from fierce competition between Aloha Air and
Hawaiian Air in those days.
On
April 1, 2008, Aloha Airline will cease its operation
completely after a long financial struggle since 2004. There are no
longer any working online reservations through
Aloha Airlines.
Travelers who have booked tickets for future trips can contact
either
United Airlines or
Hawaiian Airlines to rebook their
tickets. Neither
United Airlines or
Hawaiian Airlines promise to honor all
Aloha’s tickets.
Aloha!!!
###
Copyright (c) JoAnne Green
About JoAnne
Green:
JoAnne is an American
businesswoman. She specializes in Multinational Business Relation
and Transglobal Risk Management. She is the founder and principal of
Sunburst
International Risk Management (SRIM) and
Sunburst Worldwide
Insurance Services.
For information on SIRM international risk and insurance protection
programs, custom-designed risk mitigation and training services,
please visit Sunburst websites: www.InternationalRiskManagement.com
and
www.WorldwideMedicalPlans.com
Click Here
for Instant Quotes & Online
Purchase
for Global Travel,
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