A visit this week by Georgian Ambassador to the United States Batu Kutelia made it clear that Pittsburgh is on Georgia's mind.

The country of 4.6 million in the sensitive Caucasus, with the Russian bear on the doorstep, has taken a further step of friendship toward the city by establishing here an honorary consul, Mahnaz Harrison. The ambassador also has organized a 30-member Georgia Caucus in Congress, which includes Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless.

The focus of U.S. relations with Georgia largely has been on security. The former Soviet republic lost a mini-war with giant Russia in August 2008 and was disappointed that the United States did not play an active role in defending it against Russia.

Georgia's latest skirmish is political and involves its interest in becoming part of the NATO alliance. Some NATO members are reluctant to admit Georgia since Russia has said it would consider it a provocative act.

The focus of Ambassador Kutelia's visit here (and of Ms. Harrison's upcoming activities in Pittsburgh) were more on the economic and cultural side. He sought to alert local businesses and investors to opportunities in Georgia. For example, it imposes no taxes in the information technology field, it has a number of free trade zones and was recently deemed by the World Bank to be one of the most attractive investment climates in the world.

He said the most enjoyable part of his trip was a visit Wednesday to Hampton Township School District, in pursuit of Georgia's new policy of seeking to make English the country's second language, in place of Russian, its heritage from the days of the Soviet Union. The educational relationship between Hampton and Georgia is being pursued by Internet video teleconferencing on Skype, a relationship that was established by the Pittsburgh World Affairs Council last September during the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh.

The ambassador wants to return and hold a seminar of Pittsburghers on opportunities in Georgia, including recruitment of English teachers to spend a year there. This Georgia could easily become a new, sweet song for people of this city.

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