On November 24, 2007 was held the Meeting of the Government of Georgia presided by the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.
In the beginning of the Meeting the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili welcomed a new Georgian Prime Minister Vladimer Gurgenidze, two new members of the Government - the minister for education and science Maya Miminoshvili and minister for refugees and settlement Koba Subelaini, all members of the Government, wished them successful work and expressed the hope that the exhaustive, concrete, realistic and developed with the deep knowledge of the affairs program set before the Government will become the basis for the development of the national economy.
Then the Georgian President noted that the state authorities addressed to the population for a renewed democratic mandate which will enable it to continue the management of the country with the strengthened democratic support and active participation of the electorate from January 5 as well. With our common efforts stated the president we will overcome all difficulties and solve all challenges facing the country and the people.
The Georgian President informed those attended than from November 25 for 40 days the presidential functions will be performed by the chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia while he will involve in the presidential election campaign. Therefore, stated the President, I decided to give the orders to the Government in connection with this transitional period. This will be a very critical period for Georgia. We shall provide the national security, public order, avoid possible provocations and complications. The law-enforcement bodies are ready to prevent such acts. At the same time we shall be very sensible in respect of the regional problems and ready to prevent any threat on the adequate level.
The second issue, continued the Georgian President, is the previous task which is now as actual as never before. We shall ensure that nobody in Georgia will feel cold, hunger or face similar problem this winter. For this purpose we shall operate pension mechanisms and in crease pensions, develop special program for aid to vulnerable people, take effective measures for implementation of the firewood provision and vouchers programs, for the national energy security in order to prevent any problem for every family. This commission is very important and is based on the proper changes made in the budget. Now is the turn of the Parliament and we shall solve all problems better than ever, we shall master the situation and enhance it.
The Georgian President paid top attention to the issue of democratic course of elections. He stated that he wants not only to get a new authority but to get the authority which will strengthen and reinforce the international position of the country aimed at integration of all Georgia ad creation of the better future for all people. For this purpose we will enable every political party and force to carry the elections in the democratic situation and to enable the Georgian people to decide what persons provides it the best chance, who will be the best for all. We will also provide the freedom of all mass media in the conditions where will be protected the Georgian law, where any violent acts will be excluded. We shall make all those steps which protect democracy in the democratic world against its opponents and upholders of violence. In this line the Georgian Government have made serious steps and my Government until the election day and after it will hold the serious and firm position. We will cooperate with all international organizations, will invite the OSCE and EU observers to Georgia. Our supporters have backed us much. Yesterday Georgia was visited by the Presidents of Lithuania and Poland and two days ago we signed the contract of top importance on the construction of the railway backbone Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku. This period is critical not only for our country but for its every citizen. I believe that Georgia will overcome all difficulties in the stable and firm manner and we will show the world our firmness, order, model Government and state authorities which can manage the situation, operate in all conditions and provide the development of the country in the politically hottest election period as well.
I would like to mention also that during this period you shall always look at your acts through the magnifying glass. We will have many changes and I want everybody to know this. The steps shall be made on all levels in order to male the development of the country more intensive and straight in accordance with the public demand. Therefore, I, the new Prime Minister, all of us shall thoroughly examine the actions of each minister, representatives of local administration and self-government. At all points where the state touches the people we shall be very mobilized, effective in order not to make lough Georgia's enemies and to pass this exam which is very important for our country with the excellent mark. The Prime Minister of Georgia is fully authorised to correct concrete decisions within these 40 days. We shall continue our life as usual but in conditions of top mobilization. This will be very important 40 days for us. I am sure that everything will end well but all of us shall be on the alert, shall work eagerly. I believe that the election campaign will be as successful as before. January 5 will enter the history of Georgia as the date of counting of a new stage, stated the President.
The Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze noted that this is the first Meeting for him but he sees the working mood of the Government members. He states that they shall work hard in order to submit the budget for 2008 to the Parliament as soon as possible and that this budget shall be oriented to people. We will do it in maximum 10 days if not less. Notwithstanding the 40-day period we shall start to think and work on those strategic projects which we have now, either it is Poti, or railway or another project because we will have not more time for them.
In connection with this the Georgian President stated that one of the main blows detrimental for our country for some last weeks is aimed at out investment fund. Some mudslingers want nobody to invest in our economy. If we pass this period in cold blood we will gain more and this is not a secret. The more stable and easy will be the transitional period, the more investments will be put in Georgia, and this means more workplaces countrywide and more opportunities for our industry and commerce and every person as well.
The Georgian President reminded the Government members that on December 1 begins the implementation of employment program. Together with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs were made proper corrections to make this program more target-oriented. In this line some offers have been received from the business sphere and this work will continue. In some regions began implementation of insurance program, teacher's payroll program, Today, said the President, I met the teachers. They believe in the progress of this undertaking and we shall not betray their trust. This is only the beginning of rise in wages that will take place in this sector. This program takes start in Tbilisi and Batumi and will be continued in some places as well. This program will also cover the insurance, in particular, additional medical aid with drugs. This program covers those people who are in extreme need. Those people will receive special vouchers for this program. Such policy will be of regular manner because one thing is the insurance and another one is the people to whom no problems shall be cerated. At this stage we shall give a start and then spread this practice nationwide.
There are also concrete issues which are connected with the energy supply, gasification, protection of vouchers because in some places the population faced some technical problems which should be avoided by joint efforts. The Ministry of Energy should be involved personally in order to prevent problems from that side. The same is with the firewood, continued the Georgian President. We have made the special decision together with the Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources of Georgia and no bureaucratic obstacle shall face this decision. All decisions which will be made in this room shall be brought to the population without any interpretation and excessive bureaucracy. This is very important and all should understand that against the background of political struggles and battle the country operates very good and correct unexpectedly for our enemies but quite understandable for us. We have created such country which cannot be ruptured easily by anybody and these ruptures will not be evident for its citizens.
The Georgian President called the citizens to preserve tranquility and go to election polls well-organized because today more than ever the fundamental issue for the country is solved, Georgia is formed as the state and no enemy can shake its state foundation. Everybody shall share the responsibility and prevent dark, mafia-controlled, oligarchic dirty forces from creation of any problems in Georgia. This is the fundamental task for these 40 days. Unexpectedly to those forces the Georgian political spectrum, Government, Parliament have revealed fantastic unanimity which shall be preserved to the end. Our citizens shall see that all this is irreversible, all this is made for them and their participation in these events will be secured. Finally, the future of Georgia, the future of all use and our families depends on us.
The Georgian President expressed hope that the work on the national defense issues. As to the police, he stated that all the necessary measures have been taken and secured on the adequate level. From the energy aspect we have contracts under prolongation. At the same time in process are the talks on long-term contracts. From the social aspect, we have calculated many things and if anything is still subject to calculation and implementation, we will do it. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues the work with international partners from the European and international aspects. This work shall become more intensive. Many observers shall arrive here to prevent any problem in connection with the elections.
The new minister for refugees and settlement, stated the Georgian President, shall take into consideration that the winter period is most difficult for the most vulnerable part of our society, for the refugees. We shall increase the 11-lari allowance amount for them; however, in frames of the employment program a refugee can take 600 lari. We shall advertise this opportunity to the maximum extent in order the refugee see that they have this opportunity as well, especially in the cities, at that first stage. Finally, the Government of Georgia shall create for them the just, timed perspective of their return to Abkhazia where all of them shall come back and the perspective of settlement of these conflicts, in general. This problem as well as the issues of our normal life and territorial integrity of the country shall be solved on January 5.
The minister for refugees and settlement of Georgia Koba Subeliani thanked the Georgian President for the declared confidence and stated that all tasks will be performed in order to protect the Georgian President from any conflicts.
The Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze informed the Georgian President that on December 3 in London is planned his meeting with investors. He stated that at the meeting will be discussed those processes which are taking place in Georgia. The mood is very good because among the investors are those who have invested in Georgia for years and with whom I have met many times. This will be my first meeting with them in a new role and I will do all my best efforts to explain them what opportunities will they have, and that their economic optimism will be based on the stable foundation. ON December 4-6 I well have meetings in Brussels. The Prime Minister of Georgia stated that today he and the ministers for finance and economic development met with the leading Georgian businessmen. He stated that they are preparing joint interesting, creative initiatives. In this line the export shall be promoted to the maximum extent, shall be improved the investment climate. Our companies export their product to Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and so on, but we have some certain problems. We shall discuss with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs how can we help Georgian companies in their penetration to concrete markets.
The Georgian President asked about the course of operations carried out fro solution of the heating problem at schools. He stated that today in Rustavi was opened a new technical college in two buildings of which the heating is not yet operating. The ambient temperature is close to zero. He ordered to the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to study in the extraordinary mode the situation with heating and to take measures in order to provide schools with heating. Where there is not possibility of heating shall be brought firewood and excluded the problem of lacking funds.
In connection with this Tbilisi mayor Gigi Ugulava informed the Government members that the joint program developed with the Ministry of Education and Science provided supply of schools with gas, arrangement of internal gas network and heating system. This program has been implemented almost everywhere. The installation operations are still in progress at 22 schools and in one week after the performance of proper testing the heating will be operated at 60 schools. At some schools this may be delayed for two days for the reason of testing. All schools in Tbilisi are gasified, no school requires firewood, except for three schools where gas cannot be supplied and they will be supplied with diesel fuel.
In connection with this problem the Georgian President stated that the problem of supply with fuel shall be settled at those places which are not gasified. In Kutaisi is such situation. We have assigned 2.5 million lari in order to gasify Kutaisi schools. The problem is under the special control of the Prime Minister. In Samegrelo and Imereti we have started gasification at some places. If there is any possibility to gasify schools we will do it. This concerns other regions of Georgia as well. In general, next year in the main regions of Georgia the principal gasification operations shall be completed. This is the principal issue.
There are also many other details, continued the Georgian President. For example, today we have not only the problem of completion of construction of Tbilisi-Igoeti highway, which will be completed in the nearest future, but the problem of lighting of Kakheti highway along the full length. The Sartichala section has been lighted but we shall continue this work and lighten the highway until Telavi. This is a narrow highway where the traffic has been increased. The same situation is on Tbilisi-Igoeti section. These details shall be brought to the end. If we fail to install a post or will fail to install a lampion for the reason of the election campaign it will be a big and fatal mistake. Democracy is such a thing where the election campaign shall not prevent the routine work.
The Georgian President was interested in the current situation in the public register service, those issues concerning the property legalization and registration. This issue was covered by the minister of justice Eka Tkeshelashvili who stated that everything is all right, all employees are mobilized and no obstacles on the departmental level exist. There are serious changes in the public register service. Namely, the process of retrieval of information for examination of personal data by population was facilitated. In this process was introduced such a service and SMS exchange that is an up-to-date method. Any citizen is able to send a SMS and get respective information back to his cell phone. For the next week is planned presentation of this service and introduction of this innovation. In addition, the work on the listing level has been practically completed, data examination process is ideal only with 1 % inaccuracy that is a very good indicator worldwide. In some countries the inaccuracy of 3-4% is admissible but we have succeeded to make this at a lower inaccuracy, therefore the personal data of population will be registered in the civil register very correctly and consequently the same will be the voters lists. The arguments on availability of inaccuracies are actually fictitious.
The Georgian President expressed the belief that there will not be problems related to registration and voters lists. He stated that ill-wishers, including some election subjects, are trying to create problems as always and make illusion of problems as well. They are simply illusionists said the President, some of them are. So we shall not enable any political Kio to make any effort in this line. Everything shall be transparent, concrete and thus the thing will be made well. This is very important.
The Georgian President was interested in the situation in regions, in construction of sport objects in regions and provision of population with firewood. He noted that this issue should not reach the presidential level. The forests were let in lease but some lessees are always at the stage of doing something. In the conditions when population have always cut trees and today the lessees do not enter them into the forests, this decision was not right. Unfortunately, in this direction there were taken excessive measures. Everybody will fail to use vouchers but will have them and use for some years running. We prefer to get less money from this activity in the state budget but to enable more people to act freely. I mean firewood for heating of own families and houses but not cutting forest massifs.
In connection with this the deputy head of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia, the chief of Regional Affairs Department Jambul Bakuradze stated that there is a normal situation in the regions and the process of investment there has been started. As to sport objects, in Zugdidi this object should be finished already, in Ozurgeti will be finished in the month-end, in Tamarasheni is finished. There the access road should be arranged. About the provision of population with firewood he stated that in the last wee the situation improved after we had made a decision to allow the access of countrymen in the forests. At the same time, the problem of provision of kindergartens and schools with firewood has not been solved yet.
Proceeding from the actuality of the problem the Georgian President ordered to the Ministry of Education and Science, Ministry of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, other ministries, Regional Affairs Department of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia, state confidants of the Georgian President - the governors to implement necessary measures in order to settle as soon as possible the problem of provision of al schools and kindergartens with fuel.
The Georgian President also got interested in the problem of roads, namely in operation of a newly built road in Upper Abkhazia. He underlined that these 40 days are a very interesting period. In spite of snowfalls we shall do everything for the people in Upper Abkhazia in order to protect their security or movement and we shall work 24 hours a day and mobilize all our technical and human facilities in order to complete the work in time and to have the new road clear and in good order for the interest of the national stability. Otherwise, the people who reside there will face problems.
Deputy head of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia, the chief of Regional Affairs Department Jambul Bakuradze informed the Georgian President that in connection with the foregoing were made necessary decisions and according to the information of the Road Department of the Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia no problems will arise on the new road of Upper Abkhazia and it will be opened.
At the end the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili wished once more the successful work to the Government of Georgia, expressed the believe that everything will be brought to the end in the due manner and stated: "I wish to all of us not only victory on January 5 but the victory with great advantage. We need not only a simple victory but the impressive, persuasive, great victory, winning in elections and transition of Georgia to the next deciding stage of development. God help you.