On 23 November 2008, Prime Minister of Georgia Grigol Mgaloblishvili attended St George's Day celebrations in Shiomgvime Monastery. He toured the rehabilitated monument, stating that the government will continue making sizable budgetary allocations to make sure the cultural heritage is well taken care of.
"This is a very important day and place for me. I spent the last years of school here together with my friends. Hardly could I imagine that so much could be done in Shiomgvime Monastery", the Prime Minister said.
After that, the Prime Minister met with the war-aggrieved residents of Didi and Patara Liakhvi Gorge communities, to get firsthand information about their problems. The Prime Minister promised that their problems would be solved in the nearest future. 54 homes in Teliani were transferred to the victims of the Russian aggression. 34 families have already moved in the homes and the rest will move in 2 days. The new-settlers were pleasantly surprised to find the provisions of articles of daily necessity and food in the homes.
As Grigol Mgaloblishvili said, the main challenge now is to adapt and adjust to the environment. The Prime Minister believes that help to the refugees "is not only what the state can do but also what the whole society must do. These people need support."
"The government makes its best efforts, building homes and creating all the conditions to set them up. However, these people need support and the country needs unity. I'd like to thank everyone for all that they do in small groups in these communities", the Prime Minister of Georgia said.
Prime Minister's Press Service