2020-05-22

"We learned yesterday that a new front has been opened in the form of a political masquerade, which has already or may place human health and life at risk. I wish to let everyone know univocally that Government of Georgia will continue to prioritize human health and life at every stage. Nobody will hinder the extension of restrictions, which are essential for the Government and national authorities to care for human health" stated Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia at a meeting of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council of the Government of Georgia today.

Head of Government of Georgia underlined the role of Inter-Agency Coordination Council in the fight against COVID-19 and noted that Council succeeded in full and systemic coordination of the effective fight against the pandemic in every dimension.

"You may well be aware that the Inter-Agency Coordination Council was established on January 28, 2020 - well before any case of infection was detected in Georgia. Only after a month we found the first case and two months later we announced the State of Emergency. Today we can officially take steps towards abolishing it, though it does not mean that everything is all right and it does neither mean that pandemic has been defeated. Neither Georgia, nor the rest of the planet have defeated the pandemic. We have always been saying that we had to fight against the pandemic at two fronts - human health and life; followed with an economic revival. We can say unequivocally that first goal has been managed well and it is great merits to this Council. It coordinated the effective fight towards curtailing the pandemic in a comprehensive and systemic manner. Now we are fighting at the other front for quick and effective revival of the economy. We should not forget that all of these are extremely interconnected. We learned yesterday that a new front has been opened in the form of a political masquerade, which has already or may place human health and life at risk. I wish to let everyone know univocally that Government of Georgia will continue to prioritize human health and life at every stage. Nobody will hinder the extension of restrictions, which are essential for the Government and national authorities to care for human health" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.

According to the Head of Government of Georgia, nobody should be given an opportunity to make political speculation by using such threats as healthcare, human health and life. Cautious recovery of economy has the same significance.

"It is sad to see such irresponsible attitude towards topics related to human health and life, followed with the revival of economy, eradication of poverty in the country and elections of critical importance scheduled at the year-end. We neither have right, nor possibility to concede. However, we should be consistent in our actions. In general, opposition is also part of the national authority and in a normal country everyone would have stood together to do one common task. It is unfortunate, but we should endure this as well. Nobody should be given a chance to make political speculations by using such threats, as healthcare, human health and life. Cautious recovery of economy has the same significance" noted the Head of Government of Georgia.

According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, Government has taken decisions, which will enable our citizens to work and earn income for their families to the extent possible.

"We discussed and took a decision about a widely known retraction limiting mobility to 3 people per car. From now on, it will apply to taxis only and all other vehicles will be liberated from the limitation. Country is now ready to take steps and abolish the State of Emergency, which in parallel means that Curfew will also end, followed with certain easing. Also, we need to understand that we are obliged to keep certain types of restrictions, e.g. certain economic activities, civil and municipal transport, sports and arts events, border control. Government of Georgia took decisions to allow our citizens to work and earn for their families to the extent possible, though this is by no means done in places, which put human health and life at risk. Everyone should understand that if Georgia is successful in the fight against COVID-19 today, it is only due to the fact that we timely took preventive measures primarily by controlling the border and by avoiding spread of imported infection in the country. Establishment of the quarantine zones was also very effective. Steps that enabled us to limit mobility in the country were most effective of all. If we have on average 2, 5 or maybe 10 cases of infection detected a day, does not mean that virus has been defeated. Everyone should understand that our main goal is to care for the human health, but we should do it by allowing our citizens to carefully, gradually rather than immediately, resume their economic activities to feed their families" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.

According to Giorgi Gakharia, Georgia should turn the crisis into an opportunity.

"Nowadays, most important of all is to make sure that restrictions, which are extended, get full support of each citizen in the country. It requires some work and proper communication. We all understand it well that epidemic is actually at peak in our neighboring countries and what is happening in Armenia and Russia, even adjacent to our border line, is an extreme risk. Though, it does not let us close and do nothing at all. Therefore, we should gradually re-open our economy and progressively resume tourism. It should be done with great caution as to not lose our achievements. It is as simple as that. We should turn this crisis into an opportunity. We succeeded in addressing this crisis more than others only due to the fact that we took timely and effective measures. In this regard and irrespective of everything - whether relating to a constitutional process or legal framework - we have no right to retreat. Every possibility is allowed within the legal framework and constitutional order has been established to make human health and life into our prime value. When we exit this crisis, nobody knows what the world will look like. We also take into account that economy needs to be gradually and cautiously reopened, political process - revived and elections - held in an orderly manner" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.

According to the Head of Government of Georgia, current year is all about elections and it is the duty of the Government and national authorities of Georgia - its entire team in power - to hold sound, democratic elections, which we will succeed in.

"Along with everything else, Government of Georgia has a duty to facilitate the political process and continued constitutional progression in the country. Everyone understands it well that this year is all about elections and it is the duty of the Government and national authorities of Georgia - its entire team in power - to hold sound, democratic elections, which we will succeed in. If we have been fighting at two fronts so far, involving healthcare and economic development, now we have a new task to tackle. We should embrace it as well and be equally successful and victorious at this front. When we see that most pressing issues for the country and citizens, such as basic legislative initiatives, to make sure that quick and wide-spread infection is curtailed in the country, become topics of political speculation, we feel sad. Though, everyone should understand it well that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the worldwide challenge to be the global pandemic on March 11, 2020 and it has not been waived. It gives us right, makes us obliged and mandated to fight against the pandemic together with the rest of the world, which we appear to be doing effectively. Once again, I wish to underline that Coordination Council has a critically great importance, similar to the task-forces established under its subordination throughout the country and regions. This will need to be continued" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.

Head of Government of Georgia thanked every single citizen of the country for their shared civil responsibility, which has been demonstrated on a daily basis. Also, Prime Minister of Georgia thanked members of the Inter-Agency Coordination Council and stressed the paramount importance of the fight.

"I understand that these restrictions are of great discomfort in our routine, but we should do it primarily for each other, for the quick revival of the economy and ultimately for caring about the country. Our main task now is to reopen the economy gradually, rather than instantly and with great caution. One more task has been added to our plate in the form of political process, which needs to be invigorated. However, we should not forget that the entire world and WHO is nowadays getting ready for the second wave of the epidemic, which is an extremely big challenge. Each month of summer till autumn should be used by us to get prepared and be as successful as we have been so far in the fight against the pandemic. Unfortunately, we already have set such language at the first wave. Thus, Council continues to work in the same format and nothing is changing for us. We are simply acquiring tasks to care for our economy, political process and elections" concluded the Prime Minister of Georgia.

Press Service of the Government Administration