On December 13, 2007 was held the Meeting of the Government of Georgia. The agenda consisted of 52 items.
In the beginning of the Meeting the acting President of Georgia Nino Burjanadze welcomed the members of the Government of Georgia and those attended. Further she stated that together with the Prime Minster of Georgia she discussed the activity of the Government of Georgia in the transitional period ad assessed it as the effective one. She also stated that at present. In the pre-election period it is very important for the Government, Parliament, all state structures, local self-government bodies to work in the maximum effective and adjusted way as it is worthy for a normal state in order to avoid problems for population. For use it is very important to avoid any obstacle in the energy sphere, in the electricity or gas supply of the winter period. We have taken the emergency measures not to cerate to the population any problem in connection with the mobility in the pre-election and election periods and to secure their right to exercise their powers.
Thereafter the acting President of Georgia took concern in some issues. Namely, she asked about the progress in drafting of the state budget for the next year, in the program of presidential subsidies, presidential order in connection with the provision of schools with heating and so on. In order to secure the normal budget drafting I would like to ask the Prime Minister if there is any issued not agreed with the Parliament, if there is a need in any additional advice in order to hold necessary meetings in the nearest future. I am sure that the Parliament and parliamentary committees will effectively cooperate with the Government on all issues. From January 1 takes start performance of some social liabilities the decision on which were made 2-3 months ago. The population is looking forward to get those liabilities performed and it is very important not to allow any impediments.
I would like to ask the minister for labor, health and social affairs of Georgia Davit Tkeshelashvili to provide us with the information about the course of voucher distribution process. I would like also to ask the minister for education and science of Georgia Maya Miminoshvili about the course of provision of schools with heating. In spite of the activities implemented by us in this line the solution of this problem was delayed. However, the matter of heat supply of all schools is very important because no child shall find itself in the unheated classroom. The work in this line will continue further again. For example, when visiting Mtskheta region lately I saw an unrepaired school. I promised them that the school will be repaired soon and I hope the Government fulfil their promise to repair in 2008 all schools according to the standards acknowledged for the absolute majority of schools nationwide.
Among other issues the most important is the situation in the sphere of implementation of the state program of occupational training and employment. The issue of energy supply is also very important. Together with the Prime Minister we are holding the monitoring of the energy sphere but I wonder if any obstacle in any direction of this area is expected, what are the mechanisms applied by the Government in order to secure electricity and gas supply to the population in case of facing any problem.
Before we will hear the information on these issues, continued the acting Georgian President, I would like to highlight the events which took place in Gali Region on December 12. On that day our supporters in Gali Region attempted to display the posters backing us. In connection with this fact the de-facto government stated that it was ready to apply even a corporal punishment in order to reveal who was the most active participants of this event and to take necessary measures. In our turn we shall order to the respective ministries to hold the maximum monitoring of the current events. The Gali Region is the same part of Georgia as any other region and I would not like to advise to anybody to carry any punishing activities there. This will entail the absolutely adequate responses from the side of the international community as we will inform about any such illegal act all and anybody. I know that some people are willing to involve Georgian authorities in some provocation but we will not submit to it and we will provide quite an adequate response and inform all countries and their authorities about any illegal act which will take place at any place within the territory of Georgia. This is what I want to state about the events in the Gali Region. Now let's return to the items on agenda.
The Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze noted about the drafting of the state budget for the next year that this process had been almost completed and the draft budget was considered together will all ministries. Along with the draft budget we will introduce to the Parliament those legislative amendments which will determine the surplus of the budget from the year 2008, will make the base for the future generations and the balance which will remain in the year-end at the rate of some percent will be also raised for the fund to be accrued next spring. These three components in complex are our new fiscal paradigm. This is very important notwithstanding to that who will the members of Government for one, two or five years. This will be the ground of a new fiscal policy. I hope that we will have time to pass one or two hearings.
Mrs. Nino Burjanadze shared the opinion of the Prime Minister of Georgia in connection with the budget with surplus and noted that the Government shall start to perform its promises provided within the voting of confidence. She said that after the elections the work will be continued without interruption and the events will develop in a way which will make the process absolutely irreversible. Today we lay the foundation of this process in two directions that is a very serious progress.
The Georgian minister for labor, health and social affairs Davit Tkeshelashvili first of all concerned the issue on distribution of electricity and natural gas vouchers. He stated that this process entered its final phase and in the nearest some days, maximum, in one week it will be completed. Up to date are distributed 96% of electricity and natural gas vouchers. The certain sums in total amount of 40 million lari were placed on the accounts of energy companies and subscribers. This process will continue until is completed and finalized. Be informed that this program was estimated for 200 000 persons and only a small part of them has not received the vouchers. Some problems were in connection with the places of residence. At this stage we are establishing and investigating all problems. However, we have no problems and troubles in this line. Maximum in one week this process will be completed nationwide.
Mrs. Nino Burjanadze stated that within the meetings with population in some places she asked people about the course of distribution of vouchers on firewood and was satisfied that the process is implemented in due manner. She also wondered what is the situation with firewood at schools.
The minister for environment protection and natural resources of Georgia Davit Chantladze provided to the Government the information that all residents nationwide were covered with the firewood vouchers. The vouchers were distributed to all those who were present. Some rural residents had left for cities and were absent so we are going to make a second round and to distribute the rest of vouchers. Those who have left for Tbilisi will be enabled to pass registration at forestry management bodies and receive the vouchers in future. At present 78% of population have received those vouchers. As to supply of schools and kindergartens with firewood, five days ago the firewood was provided to all schools and kindergartens. Some educational institutions have got firewood for total winter period, some of them - for the first stage. In January-February they will get additional firewood and will have no problem in this line.
In connection with provision of schools with firewood the minister for education and science Maya Miminoshvili added that as have been agreed all schools were transferred required sums. Upon completion of the first stage as mentioned by Mr. Davit Chantladze the schools have informed us about their need in purchase of further stock of firewood and they will receive the necessary sums for this purpose. As to the heating, stated Mrs. Miminoshvili, there are more than 2010 schools in Georgia. At more than 400 schools the heating system have been rehabilitated under Iacob Gogebashvili project. In some schools we have faced the heating problem as we have supplied other schools with fuel or firewood. Today at about 30 schools the rehabilitation work is still in progress. In some schools we have faced the problem of electricity as the wiring has not been meant for the heating. For example at Rustavi schools the heating rehabilitation operations are in progress but we believe we will complete them in 2-3 days as there we shall lay the three-phase current for the heating system. We believe the rehabilitation operations at those 30 schools will be completed in 2-3 days and in the beginning of week the heating system at all schools shall be put in good order.
It is a good fact that the problem is settled, stated the acting Georgian President but she also added that a bad fact that the problem is settled at the last moment, during the winter period. She said she believes that in the nearest future similar problems will be avoided. She attracted attention of the Prime Minister of Georgia, minister for education and science of Georgia and minister of finance of Georgia to the fact that as temporary sums are to be attracted to some extent, new decisions are to be made anyway and these decisions will take some time, it is better not to burden the budget with extra liabilities. She also mentioned that during her meeting with the teachers was broached a question that the schools are provided with vouchers and by using these vouchers the teachers receive extra pay but sometimes they cannot purchase stationery and chalks. For example such question was broached at Mtskheta school the day before yesterday. So when we are doing one good thing we shall not spoil another one. A chalk or any stationery thing shall be provided to schools for their proper operation.
Subject to the foregoing the minister for education and science Maya Miminoshvili stated that she is aware of these school problems. She said that the matter is that at Tbilisi schools the amount of vouchers was increased from 250 to 300 lari and the main purpose of this was to rise the pay for the teachers. Naturally, it should be taken into consideration that this is not in direct proportion with the payroll because in the schools with small staff and small number of pupils they face the problem that the increase in the sum of voucher does not cover even the payroll, i.e. the liability which we have taken before the teachers. Therefore, the share of the so called schools with deficit, or those schools the operation of which requires more sum of vouchers, has grown up to 50%. Today we can say that there are about 1200 such schools where the funds are lacking and which require more support than vouchers only. This evidences the fact that the voucher financing formula is not effective and that we shall revise it. We hope that in the nearest future, namely in one week, with the support of the Ministry of Finance we will present for consideration such formula of voucher calculation that will result in the decrease of the number of schools with lacking funds.
In connection with the implementation of the state program for occupational training and retraining at the workplace the minister for labor, health and social affairs of Georgia Davit Tkeshelashvili stated that today we are at the stage of execution of relations between an employer and participants in the program. Form this aspect we have not got any problem or obstacle in the last two or three days. Together with the Ministry of Economic Development we have been working with the corporate bodies in order to get the detailed and correct information about the total employees. This process is not for one or two days. This process will last for some weeks and our main function together with the Ministry of Economic development is to provide the proper control and monitoring over the implementation of this program. The other main task is not to leave any person who have passed registration on the halfway and to bring the process to the end.
The Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze asked the minister for agriculture of Georgia Petre Tsiskarishvili to inform the attended persons about the situation in gathering in and storage of harvest of citruses and distribution of flour to population.
The harvest of citruses, stated the minister for agriculture of Georgia, will make up some 90 000 tons. For comparison, last year 35000 tons were gathered. Currently, from Ajara and Guria have been realized 44000 tons of citruses. The main export is channeled to Ukraine. The rate of shipments depends on the number of ferryboats and the intensity of their traffic. On December 13-15 to Ukraine were sent 11000 tons more. In addition citruses are sent to Azerbaijan and Armenia, though the import of citruses in Armenia is levied at high rate of 750 USD per ton.
In connection with this the acting Georgian President Nino Burjanadze asked the Prime Minister of Georgia to take interest in the issue related to the high tax on the import of citruses from Georgia in Armenia and to take timely the effective measures for solution of this problem.
The minister for agriculture of Georgia also stated that after some problems overcome there were concluded agreements on export of citruses and apple to Belarus and Kazakhstan. Currently the work on development of those markets is in progress. According to the minister's information the intensity of transportation of citruses will be high until the middle January 2008. Based on the calculations, 5-10% of the harvest of citruses remain unsold and will be sold on the domestic market in February-March.
In connection with the distribution of flour to population Petre Tsiskarishvili states that this process is taking place according to the existing schedule and at present it is completed in Kakheti, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Kvemo Kartli, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions. 3% of population have not yet got flour in Guria and Ajara. As to other regions the process will be completed ther by December 20-25. The stock and supply of flour has been increased much. Wheat has been imported from Russia and Kazakhstan. AT present the stock of wheat amounts to 48000 tons and at the end of December it will be increased by 40000 tons more.
The acting Georgian president Nino Burjanadze thanked the Prime Minister of Georgia, the members of Government for the provided information and wished them success in their further activity.