An invitation not to forget the Caucasian conflict and its effects; an appeal to the countries of the old continent to support the material reconstruction of Georgia and of the regions affected by the riots of last Summer. Such positions have been taken by the Congress of local and regional powers of the Council of Europe, gathered in Strasbourg for its Autumn session (1-3 December). "Whatever the causes of the conflict explains Yavuz Mildon, chairman of the Congress -, this has been a tragedy for the local communities, who have paid the highest price in terms of human lives and destroyed infrastructure". "The task we have to face went on Mildon is to determine how the local communities" "may help their counterparts" in the Caucasus in rebuilding "their infrastructure and reinstating their public services, so the refugees may come back and settle back in their homes, and how to respond to the needs of the victims and their families". In addition, in the short-term, "children’s education must be ensured". In the medium- and long-term, instead, "the aids should help strengthen the local democracy in the area affected by the conflict by supporting dialogue and reconciliation".
