Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear relatives, First of all, I ask you to kindly forgive my physical absence. The only explanation I can offer is that fate has carried me very far from Georgia—so far that even the most modern means of communication cannot fully overcome this distance. Nevertheless, I am deeply grateful to all of you for gathering here today to honor the memory of my father, Professor Andro (Andrei) Bitsadze. Though absent in body, I am present with you in spirit and i