The Spokesperson for the President of Georgia Manana Manjgaladze held traditional briefing, on which she summarized important issues taking place in Georgia recently.
Last night the occupants left village Perevi in Sachkhere region after 26 months of occupation, Georgian side fully controls the village at this moment. Manjgaladze stated that international society estimates it as the first step towards de-occupation. This step was made because of the influence of international commonwealth. But Russian military forces still remain on 99 percent of the occupied territories and Perevi represents only one percent of occupied territories. She said that all major problems and issues that come with occupation are still unresolved and it is necessary to continue working in this direction.
"Perevi is one village of the occupied territories. It is important for Georgian government and Georgian people to liberate every inch and every meter from the occupants. It is also important that major and principal issues of 2008 Sarkozi-Medvedev agreement, among them issue of de-occupation are unfulfilled and 20 percent of Georgia still remains under occupation. Russian side still breaks this agreement. Rights of population residing on the occupied territories are humiliated, tens of thousand IDPs have no possibility to dignifiedly and securely return to their own houses. Russian side do not give a chance and right to international observing missions to enter and act on the occupied territories", Manana Manjgaladze noted.
At this moment Georgian law enforcements agencies and international observers fully control the situation in village Perevi. Now the total security of Perevi population is vital. The Spokesperson noted that the territories left by Russians must be fully checked and mine clearance must be carried out in case if it is needed.
"It must be a part of process and not the final result that has started and finished. This process must continue. Steps already taken showed us that unite and strong position can give us positive results. This is the right action plan. We hope that diplomatic influence will farther continue", Manana Manjgaladze noted.
The Spokesperson of the President spoke about the Constitution that was passed by the Parliament last week. She said that new Constitution created a totally new model in regards of checks and balances between different branches of the government. "This is an European type of Constitution, which envisages a strong Parliament, a strong Government and the President that will be acting as an Arbiter between executive and legislative branches of the Government. It is important that Georgian Parliament waited for the final decision of Venice Commission and the document gives us a chance to say that that the Commission evaluated positively the amendments adopted by the Parliament. It really was a very difficult process, which lasted for a year and a half. Discussions and rather sharp debates used to be held. All the Georgian political spectrum, NGOs, parliamentary and non-parliamentary opposition, a large part of the society, international groups and experts were involved in the discussion process", the Spokesperson stated.
The President expresses his gratitude to everyone who had worked on the Constitution, for their considerations and active participation. First of all this gratitude goes to the members of commission and of course its Head of the Commission.
Manana Manjgaladze noted as well that the CEO of Millennium Challenge Corporation would visit Georgia by the end of this week. The President of Georgia will meet him during his visit. The meeting between Mikheil Saakashvili and Daniel W. Yohannes was planned during the President's visit in New York.
"The issues of negotiations are pretty interesting. The works fulfilled by Millenium Challenge were partly summed up. Future plans of cooperation were settled as well. The project of Batumi International Modern Technologies University has to be noted as well", Manana Manjgaladze stated.