The President of Georgia visited the family of merited pensioners - Tsira and Giorgi Javakhishvili, which live on Todria Street in Rustavi, and personally gave them the increased pension. Considering what the head of the family was receiving based on his work experience and merit, his pension will become 110 GEL. The discussion also touched on such issues as the recently implemented new projects in Rustavi as well as future plans. According to Mikheil Saakashvili, the government will continue to develop Rustavi and build new facilities in order to employ the local population.
"First of all, let me tell you that I have a strong desire to make pensions not only 100 GEL, but 1000 GEL. So far the country does not have enough funds to increase pensions and a more equitable distribution is impossible. For now we need to pave roads, build schools and invest money in the construction of new facilities in order to gain more income and take care of you better. Your hard work has brought us here, and I think the young people will need a lot of time to develop such talent and skills as your generation has. I said many times that nothing is more important. I know better than anyone that 100 GEL and not even 500 GEL is enough today. However, it is important that electricity and natural gas bills will not increase for a long time, because we have signed contracts that guarantee fixed costs. We are trying to bring more pharmaceutical companies to Georgia to resist increased drug prices; we are also implementing a system of medical insurance, and most importantly, hospitals are being built so that if necessary, people can get medical care with their insurance. I remember the time when the amount of a pension was 7 GEL and 14 GEL. Incredible things were happening, people were getting 13 GEL and the bank charged 1 GEL for cashing their pensions. The approach was very inhumane, but to say that we increased the 13 GEL pension many times wouldn't be right either. There is no other way - than to advance slowly. The country will be built slowly, the most important thing is that you are feeling well "- stated Mikheil Saakashvili.
Tsira Jaavkshishvili thanked the Head of State for increasing pensions and renewing the infrastructure of the city. According to her, Rustavi had no electricity, no natural gas and it certainly never had a 24 hour water supply before." Mikheil Saakashvili also promised to rehabilitate the Tbilisi-Rustavi road section and take care of the unemployment problem. The President drew attention to the projects which will soon be completed in Rustavi.
"I am very glad that the road was paved in Rustavi, water system organized, gasification took place, and now we are taking care of the road that connects this city to Tbilisi. It's nice that the auto market has moved to Rustavi and people were employed, but this has worsened the traffic conditions. The road to Ponichala is so narrow that it makes transport movement very difficult, increasing the risk of traffic accidents. In reality, Rustavi is closer to the center of the capital than some suburbs of the capital, but because of this road it is torn away from Tbilisi. My goal is give Rustavi a wide road connecting to Tbilisi." - stated the President of Georgia.
During the conversation, Mikheil Saakashvili also noted that next year the construction of the second building of the "Azoti" factory will begin, where several hundred people will be employed. According to him, in spite of the fact that nothing has been done in Rustavi for so many years, the motivation of the people has not changed. Moreover it was transferred to the new generation. As the President stated, this is very important.