2018-05-14
I would like to say a few words about the events of the past two days. There is no wall between our government and our population. We never abstain from dialogue with our youth, and yesterday was an especially clear demonstration of our government's humanity.
It is very important to say that yesterday and the day before yesterday, we saw law enforcements, police, sparing no effort to protect the safety of our citizens, demonstrators. We saw the police and law enforcements serving Georgia, not one or another political force and its interests. It was a very important fact. It should also be said that the vast majority of those in the streets allowed the law enforcements to fulfil their duties, which is very important.
As for policy on drugs, it was discussed yesterday, promises were made, and the final version of the draft law will be referred to the Parliament within the next few weeks, in the foreseeable future, to involve, on one hand, significant liberalization and a far more humane attitude toward users-including the establishment of psychosocial rehabilitation commissions-and, on the other, taking a much harder line with drug dealers and drug trafficking, which the state will never tolerate.
In addition, tomorrow we will have a meeting with the participation of the members of the Cabinet and the Tbilisi Mayor, by all means, and we will discuss the government's complex plan for introducing healthy lifestyle, creating relevant infrastructure, and ensuring its accessibility. It will be a complex plan developed through broad public engagement, and I strongly believe that the private sector will join its implementation with enthusiasm.
Generally, I would like to say that the ruling team has exhibited maximal, excellent coordination in its work. There was engagement from the Executive Branch, the Parliament, and the Tbilisi Municipality; everyone participated without exception. Minister Gakharia's decisions yesterday were optimal under the circumstances we were facing. Over those two days, Kakhi Kaladze was actively involved in the process, of course, and so were the Speaker of the Parliament and I. Practically, we all stayed up for two days straight and, as a result, we averted a confrontation and made the right decisions. As for the rest, time will tell in the next few days.