The Meeting of the Government of Georgia was held on 10 August 2008.
At the beginning of the Meeting, Prime Minister of Georgia Vladimer Gurgenidze said: owing to the marshal law in the country, the Government Meetings will be held on a daily basis. Over the past few days, our civil infrastructure sustained certain light hits. He said that all wanted to know how the consequences were being remedied and asked Minister of Economic Development of Georgia Ekaterine Sharashidze to inform the audience on the progress of the rehabilitation works.
Minister of Economic Development of Georgia Ekaterine Sharashidze informed the Government members that Poti Port had sustained certain damage. She said: at this point, we've been able to rectify all and the port is operating without interruption. The same holds true with Batumi Port where four ships were discharged yesterday. The Highway Department is fully mobilized. As a result of the efforts we made, all the damaged sections of the motorways have been repaired. The damages to the railway have already been fixed and the railway is operating in a regular mode now. Tbilisi and Batumi International Airports are also in operation. Flights to European countries are carried out normally. There is no problem in Tbilisi Airport. Additional benches were put and additional shops and cafes were opened in the vestibule. There is no delay whatsoever and all works well at this point.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the Minister of Economic Development for the efforts, saying that maximum mobilization was needed to timely help any key unit of the infrastructure, including airlines, and focused on the assistance that the Ministry had rendered to Tbilaviamsheni in repairing the damaged runway. Then, as Minister of Energy of Georgia Aleksandre Khetagurovi was on a business trip, the Prime Minister asked Minister of Finance of Georgia Nika Gilauri to provide information on the situation in the energy sector. He also added that there must have been no problem in any sector in terms of taxpayer service.
Minister of Finance of Georgia Nika Gilauri said: the energy sector is operating smoothly. We have no problem in electricity or gas supply. There is quite a large reserve and different scenarios have been developed. We limited gas supplies to Gori on our own for safety considerations. As for the Ministry of Finance, so far there has been no problem whatsoever and, tomorrow, as is true with any Monday, the economic activity will be renewed.
The Prime Minister of Georgia stressed the importance of tax collection and effective performance of the tax system under those extraordinary circumstances, saying that it was their patriotic duty. Afterwards, the Prime Minister of Georgia inquired about the operation of the Ministry of Health.
Aleksandre Kvitashvili, the Minister of Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, informed the audience: as of 2 p.m. today, the Ministry received the report of 92 dead, including 47 civilian casualties. Compared to yesterday, the increase in the number of civilian casualties is caused with the bombing of Gori. It is strange when they say they do not target civil facilities. As a matter of fact, though, a large number of people were wounded or killed in residential buildings and in the urgent medical care facility. The entire system is operating effectively and so far we have not had a problem. From abroad, we have received increasing number of offers of help. We are coordinating the efforts with the relevant UN organizations and would like to state that at this moment there is no need for any massive aid, though the interest is great indeed.
The Prime Minister of Georgia stressed the commitment of the Georgian medical workers that they had shown in those days, thanked them and expressed hope that within the following few days there would be no serious increase in the number of the wounded or dead. As for humanitarian aid, he said that due to the existing situation, there was a certain influx of the people who had to leave their homes, and asked Minister of Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia Tamar Martiashvili to inform the audience on the progress in the efforts to set up a receipt and distribution center in Mtskheta, whether the center was equipped with articles of daily necessities, whether it fulfilled its functions and how it coped with them.
The Minister of Refugees and Accommodation of Georgia said: the center will have been fully equipped by the end of the day. There are about 130 people there now. We are expecting the next waves of people to come but we do not know how many. Whatever their number, we'll receive and accommodate them. If there is a demand, additional tents will be pitched and duly set up. As for humanitarian aid, we are expecting three airplanes to come from the UN organizations. The Red Cross and other organizations are promising to send big humanitarian aid within the next few days. Starting from this evening, World Food will be launching large-scale efforts in terms of food supplies. Tomorrow, we'll start registering all the refugees, as it is very difficult to do it now due to their constant migration.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the Minister of Refugees and Accommodation for the information and inquired about the situation in the system of the Ministry of Justice, namely whether the agencies of the Ministry were prepared to serve Georgian citizens in all the regions and whether there would be any danger for the citizens.
Minister of Justice of Georgia Nika Gvaramia said: nothing has changed in the activities of the system. It is working in a regular mode. It is customarily important to serve citizens and the Ministry will continue in the same style. It is a working day in series of regions, and whenever there is a demand, we have no difficulty. As for the problem regions, so far we've been working there and hopefully will continue working there. Of course, there is a measure of risk but those working in the public service system are aware of the possible risks, particularly for under the current circumstances, and we are bound with duty to serve them despite the risks. As for the penitentiary system, everything is under full control here, too. There is no security risk in the penitentiary system and no consequent risk to the population, as we have the situation under full control in all the penitentiary facilities. The system is working effectively and all of its facilities are functioning in their customary mode.
The Prime Minister of Georgia expressed satisfaction for the information, saying that the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also functioning effectively, public order was maintained everywhere and there was no problem in the country in that avenue.
Then the Prime Minister inquired whether there were interruptions in delivering foodstuffs due to the logistical situation, at which Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli said that certain problems had arisen in terms of foodstuff deliveries due to an artificial panic but the situation had already improved and there were no problem in food production, delivery or sale.
In connection with the information, the Prime Minister of Georgia said that if food deliveries were interrupted due to local transport problems, it was very important to make a fast response to them. It was equally important to maintain close contacts with the local governments to promptly address those problems, and the Ministry of Agriculture was doing just that.
Then he asked Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Giorgi Nodia to inform the audience about the situation in the education facilities.
Minister of Education and Science of Georgia Giorgi Nodia said: we have problems in Gori, where Gori University building as well as one vocational and two public school buildings were damaged. Public School N7 was hardest hit. Tomorrow, we'll study the situation on site to determine what repairs have to be done to make sure that the whole infrastructure is ready for the education year in September.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the Minister of Education and Science of Georgia for the information, saying the Ministry of Finance would necessarily allocate the funds needed to repair the schools.
Then he inquired about the contacts with the Georgian Diaspora abroad, in respect of which State Minister of Georgia for Diaspora Affairs Iulon Gagoshidze said: we maintain ongoing contacts with all the countries where we have Georgian Diaspora. They are committed to pressing for the Georgian cause. Today, meetings will be held near the Russian embassies and consulates in ten cities such as Paris, Vienna, Istanbul, Washington, Berlin, Athens, Warsaw, Barcelona and Krakow. We provide them with prompt information about the current situation here. In turn, the representatives of the Diaspora disseminate the information over there that Russia is now waging an information war and spreading lies.
The Prime Minister of Georgia said: the Georgian Diaspora is an inseparable part of our country and nation. We have repeatedly seen their high sense of civil responsibility. They are following closely the events unfolding here, are concerned about their relatives and friends that they are so far from Georgia. Therefore, they have scant information on what is happening here in each particular moment, and this further augments their concern. But those over there see that civil life goes on in a regular mode across the whole territory of Georgia.
Organizational Department of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia