The Commission was led by its Chairman Davit Narmania, the Minister for Regional Development and Infrastructure and the Co-Chair Paata Zakareishvili, the State Minister for Reintegration. The Minister of Justice Tea Tsulukiani and the Head of USAID Mission to Georgia Stephen Haykin also attended today’s session.

The Commission members discussed the needs of villages adjacent to the Division Line, particularly the issues related to: gasification, equipping the villages with energy-numeric hardware, supply of woods, regulation of social assistance, construction of medical clinics, registration of lands, conferral of ID cards, education and school rehabilitation.

"In recent days we traveled to approximately 40 villages and all of them face the problem related with the lack of energy-numeric hardware. We told the population that the provision of energy-numeric hardware would be finished within a year; however, the officials from the Ministry of Energy confirmed that would stipulate the process to be finished within six months. Also the gasification process of the villages located near the Division Line will be completed in six months as well, in a way that the locals won’t have to pay anything. This is clearly a benefit for the local population - what has not been done for 5 years, shall be completed within 6 months. Other issues will be solved within the working process", - Paata Zakareishvili declared.

According to Davit Narmania, the implementation of the planned agenda requires GEL 20 million.

"The supply of woods costs approximately GEL 2 million; nevertheless, the Ministry of Finances already possesses the part of supply that will be provided to the local population. For filling in the gap, we shall contact the licensed companies and find out how they can meet the demand. We have also discussed other issues, such as the construction of medical clinics, education, student’s assistance, land registration and conferral of ID cards. Overall, the part of GEL 20 million shall be spent on those activities that may be processed by the end of the year. Other activities, such as gasification should be financed from the next year’s budget. At present, the #49 Article of the Electoral Code is a kind of obstacle for us, as it prevents additional financing until the electoral results are announced. So at this stage, we have to work through the budgets of our respective agencies and the current programmes", - Davit Narmania declared.

Stephen Haykin spoke about the USAID engagement within the process.

"My goal was to receive the more detailed information about the current issues. I briefly reviewed those projects that are carried out by the USAID, including the one related to roads and irrigation systems, which we are implementing together with the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure. We are also working with various stakeholders to establish small infrastructural projects and to improve the lives of people. It is a moment when we have to assist the state in its efforts to respond the emergency needs", - Stephen Haykin declared.

The next session of the Interim Commission is scheduled for October 29.