The President of Georgia attended the presentation of the Society of Spreading Computer Skills at the Ilia Chavchavadze Home Museum in Kvareli today, addressed the attending audience, and spoke to them about the importance of this initiative. As the President noted, education is the easiest way of saving Georgia and retaining our statehood, which is in its turn a guarantee that the old mentality will not return. According to him, the country must find its niche through education and it should control the tendencies of the world market and current events by way of computers. He considers the knowledge of computer skills and the English language absolutely necessary for this. The President also focused attention on the fact that every citizen of Georgia is equal, everything is happening based on the meritocratic principle, and the advancement of a person is dependent on that person’s talent and hard work. According to Mikheil Saakashvili, computer skills and usage will make our country even more successful and will assist the advancement of prosperity. Knowledge of computers will be a prerequisite for Georgia moving from the list of developing countries to the list of first tier countries.

The Head of State also noted that the society which has been formed today envisions providing computers and internet to the villages of Georgia. According to him, 80% of Georgian villages will be provided with internet and Tbilisi will completely covered by a Wi-Fi system. He expressed hope that by 2015 100% or at least 90% of secondary school students will have personal computers.

Mikheil Saakashvili also touched on the programs of the Ministry of Education and Science and noted that the teachers who are teaching the Georgian language to ethnic minority regions are by classical understanding the spreaders of literacy. The President similarly assessed the foreign teachers, who are teaching the English language in Georgia. However, he noted that the most important thing now is to spread computer skills at an unprecedented pace.

The Head of State also focused attention on the fact that Georgia was the first country in the region, where an Intel factory was built and “Police Pads” patented. Classrooms equipped with ultramodern technology and computers have opened in our country and similar classrooms will soon be in every school of Georgia. According to Mikheil Saakashvili, this proves that nothing is impossible in Georgia.

Mikheil Saakashvili also advised the members of Government to limit their work related to trips abroad and manage some processes through a computer and the internet. According to him, there is still a lot of poverty in the country and some finances will be saved as a result of this.

The President of Georgia called on every citizen to be involved in this project and stated that today we are doing a favor for our grandchildren and the efforts of every citizen are needed for this.

The President of Georgia joined this movement in his capacity as an ordinary citizen of Georgia and signed an official document forming the modern version of the 19^th Century “Literacy Spreading Society” - the Society of Spreading Computer Skills. Mikheil Saakashvili electronically signed the declaration with his personal ID card.

With the initiative of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia it is planned to create computer centers in up to 300 villages of Georgia during the first stage. Up to one million citizens of Georgia will have a chance to learn about using internet at these centers and get useful information for selling their products online.

The project envisions giving an opportunity to the regions’ residents to understand modern technologies and use them practically in business affairs. Local instructors, who are going through special trainings and consultations, will work at the computer service centers.

Courses will be held for interested persons beginning on June 15.