In Georgia, a series of high level meetings were held in the capital Tblisi. A meeting was held with the country’s President Mikheil Saakashvili, who gave his endorsement to the message ‘Think BeforeYou Drive’ by wearing the campaign wristband. Hosted by the British Ambassador Donald Maclaren of Maclaren, the visitors also held meetings with the Mayor of Tblisi, Gigi Ugulava, the Speaker of the Parliament, Nino Bujanadze, and with the President of the Georgian Automobile Federation (GAF), Shalva Ogbaidze.

The GAF is planning to launch a Georgian version of the ‘Think’ campaign later this year. Mosley and Ward also spoke to young people at the Georgian American University which recently suffered the loss of three students killed in a car crash.

In Armenia, the FIA Foundation has sponsored the recently formed National Road Safety Council (NRSC). The Council brings together the Automobile Federation of Armenia (FAA), the Protection of Consumer Rights NGO, the Armenian Public Health Association, Society for Driver’s Rights, and the British Alumni Association. Chaired by Mkrtich Pitloyan, President of the FAA, the Council has launched an Armenian version of the Foundation’s ‘Think Before You Drive’ campaign.

Mosley and Ward also visited Yerevan, Armenia’s capital, where they met with the Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and the Minister of Transport Andranik Manukyan who both expressed government support for the NRSC. A further meeting was held with Roger Robinson, the country representative of the World Bank which is increasing its investment in road safety projects in the country.

In Baku, Azerbaijan, meetings hosted by British Ambassador Laurie Bristow were held with senior members of Azerbaijan’s Transport Ministry and also with petroleum group BP which has taken a leading role in promoting road safety in the country.