On July 18, 2007 was held the Meeting of the Government of Georgia attended by the President of Georgia. The agenda included 16 items.
Upon beginning of the Meeting the Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili paid a tribute to the memory of the last Georgian participant of Texel revolt Pokro Gakharia who was buried with military honors in the town of Zugdidi on July 17. The Georgian President stated that this was the historic revolt where some hundreds Georgian soldiers who could disarm the numerous German garrison, together with the local Dutch population were opposing the army of fascist Germany for some months. That was one of the last struggles of the World War II in the West Europe where the Georgians fought heroically. That was the special mission of children of our country for Europe at that very important historic moment, underlined the Georgian President and expressed regret that in due time the heroism of the revolt participants were not appraised in the adequate manner, many of them were arrested, exiled, many of them were depreciated and if not the particular efforts of Mr. Rezo Tabukashvili for their rehabilitation this would be one of the lost theme of the Georgian history.
The Georgian President expressed belief that many heroes like Pokro Gakharia will grow up in Samegrelo and all Georgia. The members of the Government of Georgia and those attended stood up and hold a minute of silence in honor of memory of Pokro Gakharia and other Georgian heroes participated in Texel revolt.
In connection with the information by the Georgian finance minister Alexi Alexishvili about the credit sovereign rating of Georgia (namely conferring BB (-) rating to Georgia). The Georgian President noted that the provided information indicates the significant advancement of the national economy. Georgia faced not only an actual blockade (we have lost our main trade partner) but a virtual blockade as well. They permanently are speaking that at any day here will begin a war, that this country has nor perspectives, that in this country is chaos and disorder. In such situation we have succeeded to create such a business climate which no country in this region has got. We are struggling and will struggle corruption notwithstanding who is opposing us in this affair because the struggle against corruption is our main resource inside the country. With all this we have advanced our rating in the worldwide investment rating list that implies we have obtained a chance for the increase in the bank credit interest, i.e. the number of loans shall be extended. As a result of this our people will purchase apartments, tractors, will develop agricultural production, create processing enterprises, will invest more money in the infrastructure. All these events have its economic idea and meaning. The main fact is that as a result of those activities will be increased the index of our economic growth and we will do our best endeavors to put the inflation rate in certain frames resulted from the correct cost policy. Every person shall feel that those are the changes for his benefit.
I believe this is the victory of the Government and our country. This is the case where the minus is really considered as a large plus, however, in order to eradicate the minus in a next year, we shall make more efforts, - said the Georgian President.
The Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili noted, that on July 17 the Chief of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia Petre Mamradze made the comment that the negotiations process about the status of South Ossetia with the leadership of the temporary administration was in progress. He said that it will be serious negotiations. This will not be a formality as our partners are the serious people, they are serious leaders and represent a part of the population of Georgia, a great part of the ethnic Ossetians. We, continued the Georgian President, are holding a serious discussion with them and are solving serious problems. We shall be prudent but at the same time, daring. I think that we have the possibility to restore relations between any village, community, person and the Georgian state and its significant and very dear part of society. Yesterday under my order in that region were brought tractors which will be delivered to the population of villages under the Georgian jurisdiction but not to Georgian and Ossetian villages. There is no Georgian party and Ossetian party. You all shall delete these words from your lexicon both journalists and some members of the Government who use the terms an Ossetian village, a Georgian village. You would like to tell you that in those villages to which our jurisdiction is extended a great art of residents are also ethnically mixed. This means nothing as for use all of them are equal, so we shall continue our programs. We are building some objects of culture there, all schools are well arranged and we will promote more the education sphere on that place and implementation of the education programs as well as those programs which provide restoration of confidence between people, settlement of conflict, overcoming of crisis.
The Georgian President stated that in connection with the determination of the status of the former autonomous district of South Ossetia within the Georgian state was established a group which is working with the administration headed by Dmitri Sanakoev on the issues of negotiations and relationship. This group is required for the routine daily coordination of our work. We need the permanent solution of many questions. We shall implement those programs on financing of which have been made necessary decision.
He called the members of the Georgian Government to involve in that work and to take into consideration that this work is limited with a certain frames. We shall work day and night in a way every person will see the difference. Today we are struggling for the mood of people, to win their hearts; this is the struggle between more richer but not flexible mechanisms which really do not understand the fundamental local problems and Georgia which is the state for the Georgians, Ossetians, Armenians, Azeris and all people of other ethnical origin. This are the people who by their belonging are all Georgians and the dearest citizens for us.
I believe, stated the Georgian President, that the work on the issues of settlement of conflicts shall become more intensive and effective, shall involve more international community and the Georgian Government. We have some progress at the place, in the Tskhinvali region in total, but I think that this shall be extended all over the territory of Georgia, in respect of all conflicts and situations. We have still many work to do and many defects to improve, though many professionals are involved in this process. We shall not be in the state of response but shall be more active and effective.
The Georgina President also noted that he welcomes the program which stipulates bringing of representatives of various ethnical groups in amount of 100 persons each from the Akhalkalaki and Kvemo Kartli regions and their training at the special higher courses for mastering Georgian language. It is very important that our citizens will get higher education in the capital city of Georgia and in other cities and will not leave for other countries. At this stage the low level of knowledge of Georgia language shall not prevent them and shall not become an insuperable obstacle on their way of study at the higher schools of Georgia. If they do not know Georgian well this is not their fault. On contrary they are willing to study the language and if these problems have not been solved yet, this is only for the reason that we have not been well organized for this. The preliminary studies, various technologies, many other facilities are available for integration of those people.
Press Center of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia