The Acting State Minister of Georgia for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili took part into the conference “Objectives of Georgia-EU Association.”
Mr. Davit Bakradze, the Acting State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration has opened the conference. The Acting Prime Minister of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Kvirikashvili addressed attendees in his welcoming remarks.
In her appearance, Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili spoke about the current situation in conflict-affected villages and the works that have been implemented by the Government in these villages, emphasizing the creation of Temporary Governmental Commission back in 2013, with the aim to study and address the needs of local problems in villages close to dividing line.
The Acting State Minister also discussed the projects that have been implemented in villages close to dividing line under the auspices of the Temporary Governmental Commission. Mrs. Tsikhelashvili noted that the villages located in the vicinity of dividing line are completely gasified, whereas each family receives support from the state budget for winter; in addition, the state covers academic funding for the students who live in these villages; drinkable and irrigation water supply systems are also refurbished.
“We face a number of challenges in the villages; however the Government of Georgia has a vision how to deliver its best effective response to challenges above, in order to improve conditions locally,” – Mrs. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili declared.
The list of conference speakers also included the Head of the European Union Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador H.E Hanosh Herman, the UN Resident Representative Mr. Niles Scott, the Head of Georgia National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Mr. Kakha Gogolashvili and the National Coordinator of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Mr. Lasha Tugushi.
The conference took place in the light of the initiatives, defined by the memorandum of cooperation between the Government of Georgia and the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum that seeks to hold annual high-profile joint conferences.
The event took place under the arrangement of the State Minister’s Office for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, with the financial support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia, European Union and the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden.