Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia held a meeting with European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi in Brussels.

The meeting focused on the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of the assistance provided by the European Union to Georgia was stressed.

The head of the Government of Georgia and European Commissioner Varhelyi signed two financing agreements with a total budget of 129 million EUR, which aim to improve the socioeconomic situation in Georgia as a result of the spread of the coronavirus. Giorgi Gakharia stated that the signing of the COVID-19 Resilience Contract and the Integrated Territorial Development documents within the framework of the visit is yet another confirmation of the special partnership between Tbilisi and Brussels.

The European commissioner emphasized the strengthening of transport and communication links, economic recovery, and development. The Prime Minister paid special attention to the importance of developing physical transport and communication links with the European Union in political and economic, as well as security directions, noting that the majority of the population of Georgia supports Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Georgia's important role in the wider Black Sea Region was also stressed.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister spoke about Georgia's reforms and democratic development in accordance with European standards, in terms of which the country is a regional leader. Giorgi Gakharia underscored the recently implemented electoral reform, as a result of which the country has moved to a new stage of democratic development.

The parties discussed the difficult situation and instances of violation of human rights in the occupied territories of Georgia.
While discussing the occupation, the Prime Minister noted that 20 percent of not just the country's territories, but also its development and opportunities are under occupation. Giorgi Gakharia thanked the European Union for its strong support for the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The discussion also touched on the importance of implementing new initiatives within the framework of the Eastern Partnership and focusing more on bilateral relations with the associated partners. It was noted that Georgia is a leader country in the Eastern Partnership.
The Prime Minister also underscored the progress made by the state in terms of the reform of civil service, stating that a politically neutral civil service has been established in the country and that corresponding steps have been taken at the legislative level as well, which is one of the key components of good governance.

The meeting, which was held at the European Commission, was attended by Georgian Foreign Affairs Minister Davit Zalkaliani, Head of Georgian Mission to the European Union and Ambassador of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Luxembourg Nata Sabanadze, and Head of Government Administration Natia Mezvrishvili.

Press Center of the Government of Georgia

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov addressed congratulations and best wishes to Mr. Yoshihide Suga on his election as Prime Minister of Japan.

“I am confident that under your leadership, Japan will reach new heights in political and socio-economic development, strengthen its authority in the international arena”, emphasized the Turkmen leader in his address.

Expressing satisfaction with the positive dynamics of the interstate dialogue, the President of Turkmenistan emphasized that bilateral cooperation had reached a qualitatively new level over the past years.

“Today our countries successfully interact in a wide range of areas. I am confident that due to our joint efforts, the Turkmen-Japanese relations, which are of a strategic nature, will continue to develop dynamically for the benefit of our peoples”, says the President of Turkmenistan in his address.

Taking this opportunity, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov wished Mr. Yoshihide Suga good health, happiness and success in his versatile activity in the name of the further prosperity of friendly Japan.

The strength of our country is in our diversity; for this reason, we have always cared for this diversity and we will continue to do so in the future, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia stated while congratulating Muslim clerics on Eid al-Adha.

As the head of the government noted, it is important that the representatives of all religions in Georgia work and care for the country's future together, and this will continue in the future as well.

"I congratulate all Muslims living in Georgia on Eid al-Adha. Unfortunately, we are unable to celebrate this holiday in the appropriate manner due to the spread of the virus but, hopefully, this will be the first and the last time this happens. The strength of our country is in our diversity. For this reason, we have always cared for this diversity and we will continue to do so in the future. Our Muslim brothers are our brothers just like all other citizens of Georgia. We are building this country together; we are working and caring for the future of this country together. Most importantly, we are doing this together, successfully, and we will continue to do so in the future. I would like to once again congratulate every Muslim on this occasion and I hope that just as we have worked hard together so far, we will achieve a victory over this virus as well. I would like to wish you success, health, and joint work for the future of this country, for the future of your community. We must care for each other, we must respect and take care of each other's faith, and we must build this country together," Giorgi Gakharia stated.

As Mufti of All Georgia Adam Shantadze noted during the meeting, which was held at the Administration of the Government, all Muslim citizens of Georgia are imbued with a patriotic spirit and are trying to make their contribution to the democratic development of the country, as well as to the creation of a strong, unified state.

"We are glad that hospitality has become a tradition under your leadership. This pleases us and gives us more motivation. We too will spare no effort to contribute to the strengthening and development of our country. We are a country of great traditions, history, and culture. For centuries, people belonging to different faiths and ethnicities have lived hand in hand, harmoniously, as brothers in this country and everyone made their own contribution to the development of this country. This is still the case today. Every Muslim citizen of this country is imbued with a patriotic spirit and we are trying to lay our share of bricks for the democratic development of this country, as well as for the creation of a strong, unified state," Adam Shantadze stated.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia instructed respective institutions to extend the coverage of COVID-19 tests in parallel with re-opening of the economy and on the background of increased epidemic risks. Head of the Government of Georgia held a working meeting today on the topic.

On the background of COVID-19 circulation and restrictions being lifted in the country, greater importance is acquired by the timely detection and treatment of possible cases. Every citizen should immediately call 112 or a family doctor and get PCR tested on COVID-19 if and when gets fever, cough, and difficulty in breathing or other respiratory symptoms.

As of June 11, 2020 the country has identified 6 new cases, out of which 4 are not traceable and thus contain an outright threat. Hence, Government of Georgia and healthcare professionals once again urge the population to strictly adhere to the pre-defined measures.

Gradual lifting of restrictions and resumption of the economy should not serve as a basis of lessening the effort or lead to an illusion that a virus has been defeated. Examples of various countries have been discussed at the working meeting, which have had repeated epidemic outbreaks. Significance of joint efforts and high degree of responsibility has been underlined in the process of tackling the global pandemic.

Prime Minister of Georgia and management officials of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) discussed the current stance at Fever Centers and inbound calls to 112, along with the resources required for the greater extension of testing practices. It was noted that as of today 18 labs in Georgia perform the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests and this number will increase to 24 in July 2020. Average daily number of tests performed in the country is around 1500, which is expected to increase to 4500 in the nearest future. By autumn daily indicator of tests will reach 6000-8000. Along with possible cases, tests at present will be performed among some number of groups, which will be defined in the nearest future under the Government Resolution. In line with the instructions issued by the Head of Government of Georgia, stock of test kits will be periodically increased. NCDC is also replenishing its material-technical base.

Press Service of the Government Administration

The government made the decision to significantly tighten measures within the framework of the state of emergency, which will take effect at 8:00 in the morning tomorrow, stated Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at a briefing held after the conclusion of a session of the Interagency Coordination Council on the coronavirus.

Today's session took place in an extended format and was attended by the mayor of the capital, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, and senior officials from the Center for Disease Control, in addition to members of the council.

"We have decided to significantly tighten measures within the framework of the state of emergency. Effectively - and I would like to emphasize this - effectively, we are declaring universal quarantine, which will begin tomorrow, at 8:00 in the morning. This quarantine means the following:

• It is completely forbidden to travel using any type of public transport (including the subway), both within and between cities and municipalities.

• It is only permissible to travel using light vehicles (including taxis), and only if the recommendation of the Ministry of Healthcare has been taken into consideration, i.e., if there are no more than three persons in an automobile, with the essential condition that the two persons are seated in the rear seat. This is a very important recommendation and relevant state bodies will make the appropriate decisions in case of noncompliance.

• Also, it is only permissible to carry passengers for the purpose of transporting employees of facilities of strategic importance in an organized and safe manner.

• Gathering of more than three persons is forbidden, with the exception of grocery stores and pharmacies, where maintaining a social distance of two meters is mandatory
.
• Furthermore, rules governing the operation of enterprises that are permitted by the government will be set out separately; they will have separate protocols that will be agreed with the Ministry of Healthcare. We are doing this so that the economy can continue to function and to ensure that the potential that the Georgian economy possesses is not brought to a standstill, as well as, of course, to ensure that our citizens can retain their jobs as much as possible.

• Our citizens above 70 years of age will be forbidden from leaving their homes, unless they are going to their nearest grocery store, their nearest pharmacy, or their nearest medical facility.

• If our citizens above 70 years of age live alone, the Ministry of Healthcare and the Ministry of Economy, as well as local municipalities, are obligated to provide them with assistance.

• Most importantly: Effectively, a full quarantine will be declared for the duration of the state of emergency. It will be forbidden to move on foot or using any other mode of transportation in the cities and throughout the entire country between the hours of 21:00 and 06:00. Effectively - and I would like to emphasize this once again - effectively, this means that a so-called curfew is being declared throughout the entire country between the hours of 21:00 and 06:00.

• Checkpoints will be set up in the cities of Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Poti, Zugdidi, and Gori in order to control the movement of individuals, to check their health status, and to ensure the fulfillment of the tightened measures under the state of emergency, as well as to provide initial thermal screening and to control the administrative borders of these cities. These measures will be carried out by the forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, with the involvement of the relevant agencies of the Ministry of Defense.

• A very important point: Every citizen must carry their identity documents while moving within the city at any time," the prime minister of Georgia stated.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Georgia has declared the state of emergency starting today till April 21 in connection with the situation over the novel coronavirus in the country – Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia announced.

Prime Minister has already applied to President. Declaration of state of emergency requires approval of the parliament, which will hold the extraordinary sitting later this afternoon.

Georgia confirmed three new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) bringing the total number of the infected individuals to 47 – reads the information posted on the special web-page stopcov.ge created by the government of Georgia.

According to the latest data, 1966 remain under quarantine, while 251 under hospital supervision. Only one patient recovered from the virus.

https://1tv.ge/en/news/state-of-emergency-declared-in-georgia/

The Thematic Healthcare Group of the Interagency Coordination Council on Coronavirus held a meeting today under the chairmanship of Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.

To achieve greater effectiveness, the Interagency Coordination Council has been divided into thematic healthcare, economic, and law enforcement groups that will hold a series of regular meetings under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

During today's meeting of the Thematic Healthcare Group, the Head of Government was briefed on the health conditions of coronavirus-infected patients in Georgia, also on the readiness of designated clinics and additionally attracted capacities. The meeting reported that 38 people are currently infected in the country, with most of them in satisfactory condition. All patients are stable and receive necessary treatment.

The Coordination Council was informed that 1,261 people are currently under quarantine, and 216 are under hospital supervision.

The Prime Minister was also briefed on the conditions of clinics throughout the country, the number of rapid tests available and expected in the country.

The council's meeting was attended by the Health Minister, Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control, representatives of the healthcare system, and the Mayor of Tbilisi.

The Administration of the President of Georgia and the relevant parliamentary committee are actively involved in the council's work.

www.stopcov.ge 

Press Service of the Government Administration

On March 3-4, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will hold an official visit to Georgia. An official welcoming ceremony will be held at the Government Administration. Head of Georgian Government Giorgi Gakharia will host his Armenian counterpart. A face-to-face meeting between the Prime Minister of Georgia and Armenia will be held along with an enhanced format meeting, followed by Giorgi Gakharia and Nikol Pashinyan making statements for the press.

During his official visit, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia will hold meetings with Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and Chairman of Parliament Archil Talakvadze.

Nikol Pashinyan, together with the Armenian delegation, will visit Heroes Square to pay homage to the memory of the heroes fallen for Georgia's unity.

The official visit of the Armenian governmental delegation to Georgia will conclude on March 4.

Press Service of the Government Administration

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Georgia, Li Yan, together with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, was invited to attend the official opening ceremony of Gardabani II Thermal Power Plant, constructed by China Tianchen Engineering Corporation, and deliver a speech. Natia Turnava, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Yuan Xuemin, President of China Tianchen Engineering Corporation and others have also attended the opening ceremony.

The Georgian side highly praised and expressed their gratitude towards Chinese constructors for their excellent quality projects completed at a record pace. Also, they pointed out, that Gardabani Thermal Power Plant is the largest cycle, energy-efficient power station in Georgia, which can meet 70% of average monthly electricity consumption in Tbilisi, improve the energy stability and security in Georgia. At the same time, it will create many job opportunities; contribute to the economic development of the country and peaceful life of its residents.

After the opening ceremony, Ambassador Li Yan and Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia visited the Power Plant and saw the equipment.