Saakashvili in Argveti Village

President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili opened the new water provision system at the village of Argveti on April 2. Recollecting the importance of the late poet Mukhran Machavariani to the Georgian people the President said he had finally fulfilled the promise he gave to Machavariani at their last meeting. The poet had asked the President to provide the surrounding villages with drinking water. “Mukhran Machavariani was the greatest man who always supported the national interests of Georgia and we are all so proud of this,” Saakashvili said praising Machavariani as an important part of Georgian genius. Ceremonially opening the water system named after the late poet the President emphasized Machavariani’s value to his village by continuing to spread goodness even after his death with this new water provision system.

“This project cost us GEL 1 200 000, but this is your money spent on your welfare,” said the President. Thousands of families have now received safe drinking water and Saakashvili promised that all the other families will soon be provided with the same facilities. The President also recollected how the “occupants” had been located in the nearby village of Perevi. These militarists have now left the territories. Worrying that he hadn’t yet fulfilled this main promise to Machavariani, Saakashvili said he hoped that all the militarists remaining in Georgia would soon follow their predecessors.

Talking of the economic crisis the local people may be facing in Argveti, Saakashvili emphasized that Georgia would overcome all the obstacles on behalf of its talented multi ethnic society. “No matter how many obstacles we will meet on the way to development, we will always stand up and go ahead,” he added.

Saakashvili discussed the ongoing reforms in the electoral system stressing that success can only be achieved by Georgian people. Disapproving the radical opposition parties’ demands to abolish the post of regional representatives, Saakashvili worried that the same 30-50 opposition representatives have been giving televised lectures on how people should act. “These people have never done anything profitable to their country. Such people are just oriented on consolidating their power by neglecting the people’s mind,” he said hoping to see new progressive faces in the opposition.

Giving a brief analysis of the main principles of democracy the President highlighted the importance of society not individual leaders and stressed that peace for the country means constant service to its people not personal wealth. Stressing the weakness of opposition parties the President pointed out that those who aren’t interested in people’s minds won’t get people’s support and thus will always remain weak.

Explaining that the Rose Revolution aimed at increasing people’s engagement in politics the President highlighted the importance of ordinary citizens in the current political regime. “People are not statistical units, but the unity of individuals who brought us to power; their talent and intelligence has been proved through centuries, thus their opinions about various issues are decisive,” he added. Recollecting the incident at the writers’ meeting in Kutaisi, the President disapproved of Zaza Burchuladze making a laughing-stock of the local people with his insulting address. Discouraging people to look down on others, Saakashvili spoke of the importance of Kutaisi with its information technologies and stressed that Georgia belongs to each citizen Saakashvili explained that democracy means sharing opinions without insults.