2021-07-17
We started building Army City in October of 2020. As you can see, 28 buildings have been completed already. The construction company is working very fast, and the Project Army City, designed to accommodate 1,050 service members, will be finalized in the summer of 2022. This project, launched a few months ago, is the first phase for 1,050 service members, and then it is planned to launch 5 similar projects in this territory, eventually to make up a new settlement of our hero soldiers-a new neighborhood, a new city. We the Government are doing everything to provide out service members with decent conditions, to put in place social security guarantee for them, and we will continue implementing projects of this kind.
Now I would like to comment on a few issues. I avail myself of this opportunity to address our population. Over the past few days, we have had growing infection rates, and I want once again explain to our citizens that vaccination is the best solution in this situation. Shortage of vaccines used to be a problem in the country, but we did everything to import enough vaccines. A million vaccines have arrived, and the delivery of one million Pfizer vaccines has already begun, to arrive in installments every weekend. We have a million Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines based on a traditional method and authorized by the WHO. As you know, it is planned to deliver a million Pfizer doses, and the US Government has decided to donate half a million doses, which we will receive in the next few weeks, on top of a million Sinovac and Sinopharm to be delivered to Georgia. Lately, we have seen an increase of infections among children. As a parent, I want to urge our population to exercise high civic responsibility above all else. The only tool the Government has is to offer mass vaccination, which we have already started. Yesterday, we had record-breaking numbers, 10,000 doses administered, but this is not enough. We must reach at least 20,000-30,000 to vaccinate about half a million a month. There is no other solution, maybe except the phrase I hate to repeat, "resumed restrictions," something very uncomfortable for our citizens and businesses, something that will break our country. I want us all, the private sector and every citizen alike, to understand that the Government needs your support. The Government has done everything to import vaccines, and we need to join forces and ensure the successful management and completion of the process of vaccination.
Rapid economic revival has already begun. In April, we had 45% growth, unprecedented in our region and probably worldwide. In May, we had 25%, and we expect double digits in June as well. In the first 5-6 months, we have 12% growth, and that allows us to expect this year's growth to be in double digits. And that means greater prosperity, greater budget revenues, and more projects implemented. The business community is quite optimistic, and we are very happy about that. Tourists have increased in our streets, and you can see that hotels are pretty much all booked up. And that will undoubtedly impact the welfare of our citizens. Who would want to cripple this process? Only radical, destructive forces and our enemies, our country's and population's enemies. Consequently, the public commotion and fuss we have seen over the past few days is absolutely unacceptable. I would like to explain to our population that people can easily discern who is on the side of truth. What is happening in the course of the past few days is a political act. Once again, I would like to extend my sympathy to all of you over the death of your colleague. Of course, it is an enormous tragedy for us all, but taking advantage of and manipulating the death of your colleague to influence the public is a profoundly immoral act. And the only force engaged in manipulation here is Saakashvili and his radical group. Everyone gathering around him is carrying out Saakashvili's policy. Unfortunately, I must admit that the part of journalists who are directly involved in this political campaign and rallying will have a negative, unhealthy impact on the media environment, but this is their choice. We the Government will do everything to enable you journalists to word and move freely. The Government has done everything to that end. Since 2012, our country has been earning top positions in all rankings, ahead of many EU member states, and media freedom is guaranteed in our country. In a matter of just two weeks, anyone can establish a TV station and launch media operations in Georgia.
Needless to say, our country is proud of the exceptional, unique strategic partnership we enjoy with our key strategic partner, the United States of America, a staunch supporter of our country and people, for which we are grateful to America, and I always express gratitude for their assistance over the past 30 years, since the restoration of our independence. For our part, we have done and we are doing everything we can further to strengthen this partnership and friendship based on equal relationships and mutual respect.
Of course, all these talks about-I do not even want to use this word-about sanctions is nothing but speculations directly serving the purposes of pro-Russian narrative. It directly serves the interests of pro-Russian policy.
We may hear statements from many people, and interpretations thereof, including general interpretations about how America takes action and what leverages it uses. But we claim to be a friend country in the region, and I have ever right to say it, without exaggeration, that we are a special friend of the American state, not of individual officials.
Dissatisfaction has been expressed over the judiciary, the appointment of judges, and so on. I would like to say that our Government, upon coming to power in 2012, implemented a major judiciary reform resulting in serious progress in the court system. We all remember well the country we were living in prior to 2012, with the judiciary being just another unit under the Prosecutor's Office. Unfortunately-and I find it very surprising-neither the US not Europe has ever made a critical comment against the judiciary of that time, and it is unfortunate and unfair, of course. On the other hand, we are carrying on with this process, and we have stated that we are continuing our large-scale judiciary reform, a lengthy process that is not done overnight. We do not claim to be perfect and infallible, but it is a process. What we have done in the past 8 years has made a tremendous difference, like day and night. There used to be night, but now we have day, daylight. Secondly, in terms of judicial independence and transparency, we are ahead of many EU states. In terms of public trust in the judiciary, we are in par with the leading EU states. Consequently, some may have some questions, and a misunderstanding may occur. But I promise everyone that this misunderstanding with our main strategic partner will be cleared up, and we will answer every question there is. It takes more communication, interaction, and explanation.
Even earlier, a couple of weeks ago, the US State Department and the Secretary of State, thanked me personally for my leadership in the region and the successful mission we completed together with America. So, I am addressing irresponsible, malevolent politicians: Yesterday, I listened to some direct comments urging our main partner to ruin relations with us, one way or another. All that directly serves Russia's interests. Let me remind our population that the leaders of the UNM, Dato Bakradze, Kandelaki, and others whose names I will not bother to list-under the leadership of Saakashvili, of course-went to the EU and demanded not to grant visa waiver to Georgia and our citizens. And that is a continuation of the malicious policy we all have witnessed. Of course, we will press on with this process to the end, and no force, no malicious and unfair policy of uncertain origin, will impede our progress and our country's advancement and development.
There is one more thang I would like to explain once again for you and our population. Our main concern, dear friends, must be our country's interests, and nothing but our country's interests. When I listen to politicians, they seem to care and think about nothing but their own interests. Their policies have nothing in common with our national interests, I regret to say. In fact, it is tragic. But it is what it is. It is reality, and we must accept it and look reality in the eye, but we also must change it. The fuss and speculations we have seen are absolutely groundless. As you know, Mister Charles Michel is about to visit Batumi to attend our conference, Georgia's European Way. We also expect our colleagues, Presidents of Moldova and Ukraine. I believe it is a very good platform and opportunity to exchange, share our progress. We claim to have accomplished a lot over the past 8 years, including toward EU association, free trade, visa-free travel, and many others. Suffice to say, I personally, our team, and Georgian Dream as a whole, have done a lot to strengthen relations with the EU. We also claim to have done a lot to strengthen relations with America. As for the agreement mediated by Charles Michel and his engagement, I once again thank President Charles Michel for it, because his involvement was crucial at the moment to ensure an agreement with our opposition. However, I also remind everyone that more than half of the opposition under the leadership of Saakashvili and his party have yet to sign this agreement, and that says it all. I also would like to remind our partners, and everyone for that matter, that we, on our end, have continued and are continuing this process, doing everything to implement it and fulfilling all our obligations. Everything else is nothing but speculations. The appointment of judges is a process. There may be some misunderstanding, but we will meet and talk it over, and continue our friendship and partnership.
We are a sovereign and independent state. We are doing everything, and we are a distinguished star among the EU Eastern Partnership states, with our reforms, achievements, and so on, including transparency that I already mentioned, also the fight against corruption, media freedom, justice, and every direction for that matter, in which we hold leading positions. If there are some critical views, we will hear them, of course, and we will have discussions to share our views, but our main concern must be serving our interests, the interests of our country.
Once again, I urge and ask the population to engage in the process of vaccination, which is of vital importance, to protect our own health and the health our parents, children, and those around us.
We have heard many speculations surrounding July 5-6. Let me summarize and encapsulate the events of July 5-6. The police have done an excellent job. Over those 2 days, 120 persons were arrested. On July 6, 100 persons were arrested, and 22 were arrested in relation to violent acts. Every violent act against you journalists will be investigated as fast as possible, and everyone responsible will be duly punished.