The feeling of powerlessness in the face of the events which were taking death back to the Caucasus didn’t stop Rondine’s students from reacting firmly to the war that started on the 8^th August 2008 between Russia and Georgia. While others stood helplessly or were overwhelmed by their own reasons, the feverish pride of their own roots and the desire to deny the all-embracing involvement in decision-making of their respective governments, made our students feel the increasingly strong need to say that they are the real Caucasus.

On the 13^th September, Georgians, Russians, Ossetians and Abkhazes, together, decided to open the doors of the International Hall of Residence to the world to reveal the true identity of their land and firmly declare that “The Caucasus is here”: in the respect of traditions and diversity, in the joy for dancing, in the brotherly communion between all Caucasian peoples, in the history of an ancient culture. It is not among victims, it is not in territorial disputes: the Caucasus is in all that has not yet been said.

This is why guests were offered the opportunity to have a guided visit of the Citadel of Peace during which they could get to know the food, the music, the theatre and the Caucasian traditions thanks to a rich cognitive route.

During the meeting ‘Caucasus: history, geography, traditions’ the context of these fascinating and unknown regions was studied in depth thanks to international experts and the students.

War had once again swept away their culture and casted a shadow over the beauty and reality of their peoples. Instead, they have tried to prevent the voice of conflict from talking to the world on behalf of all the Caucasus.