Government’s Meeting. Wednesday, August 29, 2001

Right at the beginning of August 29th Government’s meeting, President Shevardnadze commented an open letter, addressed to him by Speaker of the Parliament Zurab Zhvania on August 28th. Shevardnadze backed ideas, given in the letter and supported such way of public addressing to highest-level governmental officials. President Shevardnadze called these rather categorical ideas “stimulating” and thanked Zhvania for them. Shevardnadze said that citizens should know what governmental officials think about the current situation in the country.

The letter tackles the existing hard situation in the country. Zhvania called Shevardnadze for drastic institutional and structural changes, radical measures in fighting against the corruption. Zhvania stated that those persons who had illegally acquired state property must leave governmental structures. Forming a strong ‘economic team’ in the government and serious changes in the power structures then should follow these steps. Speaker of the Parliament thinks, that there is a serious danger of dissolution of the state structures.

Shevardnadze plans to solve three main problems while remaining on President’s post: restoration of territorial integrity, elimination of poverty and elimination of corruption. Shevardnadze says, that he never had hidden the fact that corruption is flourishing in the country and made number of steps to overcome it. “God inspires me to fight against corruption and this is my main objective”. Next week Government members will hear a report by the Chairman of Anticorruption Bureau Mirian Gogiashvili. At the same time, President mentions, that anticorruption campaign must not be regarded as a process of repressions. Next week’s Government’s Meeting is expected to be very tense, due to planned report by Mirian Gogiashvili. His report has been planned for previous meetings, but was postponed after President’s request to recheck facts of corruption given in the report.

Majority of the Government members supported President’s comment on Zhvania’s address. Only minister that refrained from making any kind of comments after the meeting was Kakha Targamadze, Minister of Internal Affairs, who only said that he has no authority to make comments on President’s position. He also refused to state his opinion on Zhvania’s statements.

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Agenda of the Government’s Meeting also included a bill on “Tax Debts and Restructurization of State Loans”, represented by Finance Minister Zurab Nogaideli.

Under this new bill, restructurization of debts of enterprises would be made only with President’s decree and a special commission would define terms of restructurization. President would appoint members of the commission as well. 

The bill allows repeated restructurization of tax and loan debts for 15 years in special cases. These 15 years also include first 5 years of grant period. Finance Minister said, that existing legislation allows restructurization only once and for only 3 years. Such situation hinders privatization process.

Government members assessed the bill positively and it is expected to be submitted to the Parliament right after the beginning of the plenary sessions.