Committees of Human Rights and Civil Integration, Legal Issues, Defense and Security as well as the Procedural Issues and Rules Committee made discussions on the vote of confidence to new Government declared by PM Candidate Giorgi Gakharia and the Government Program 2019-2020.

Members of the committees listened to the speeches of the Minister Candidate of Justice, Tea Tsulukiani, Minister Candidate of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, Minister Candidate of Defense, Irakli Gharibashvili and the State Minister Candidate for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Ketevan Tsikhelashvili.

The Minister Candidate of Justice, Tea Tsulukiani spoke about plans to be implemented before the next parliamentary elections by the Ministry of Justice.

According to the Minister Candidate, a number of important legislative packages will be presented to the Parliament in terms of the legislative activities. As she added, the reforms will be aimed at improving the investment climate and promoting entrepreneurial activities in Georgia, as well as the achievement of an even higher level of human rights protection in the country.

As Tea Tsulukiani noted, a package of amendments to the fundamental reform of the insolvency system will be introduced to the Parliament, which will cover the creation of an insolvency system for individuals, continuation of the land registration reform, commencement of public consultations on a new draft law on entrepreneurs, incorporation of two existing laws on foreign investments, introduction of the Code of Enforcement, and revisions to the Code of Imprisonment as well as the Criminal Code.

According to Tea Tsulukiani, works will start from next year to implement the law on mediation. According to the Minister Candidate, the Center fot Crime Prevention will be joined to the Probation Agency.

"This is important as long as the referral center is to be set up on this new United LEPL base and we, the state, will finally be able to respond to the crime committed by persons under 14 years of age. There is no criminal liability for those under 14, nor should there be, since we are a European state, but there must be a reaction - persons under 14 should not think that crime is unpunished because of age. This response will be social, educational and rehabilitation oriented", - Tea Tsulukiani noted.

Speaking on the issue of mediation, the Minister Candidate of Justice noted that Georgia is one of the 46 states in the world that has signed the UN Convention on Mediation a couple of weeks ago.
As Tea Tsulukiani added, intensive works will continue to improve the list data of voters thus making the electoral roll for the 2020 elections even more sophisticated.

According to her, the Ministry of Justice will continue to fight and work in order to maintain visa-free regime with EU countries.

In her speech, Tea Tsulukiani also spoke about infrastructure construction, planned and implemented activities in the penitentiary system.

Vakhtang Gomelauri, the candidate for the Minister of Internal Affairs, emphasized the planned and implemented reforms in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"Our goal is to maintain law and order in the country, to ensure public safety and at the same time to increase confidence of citizens towards the law enforcement in the country", - Vakhtang Gomelauri noted.

According to the Minister Candidate, so called systematic updating process designed to ensure an effective public safety and law enforcement system has commenced in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

As Vakhtang Gomelauri added, reforms underway within the system will be implemented in all major police units of the Ministry, such as: Criminal and Patrol Police, Border Police. According to him, the whole process of reforming the system is carried out with full infrastructural and technological development, deepening of international cooperation and improvement of the legislative base.

As the Minister Candidate of Internal Affairs stated, in addition to the crime prevention, the most important priority for the Ministry of Internal Affairs is the effective fight against crime.
“That is why the criminal police reform is underway at the Ministry, which involves separation of precinct and operational direction from that of investigation, enhancement of the quality of investigations and introduction of community-oriented policing. At this stage investigative, operational and precinct functions are separated in all Police Departments of Tbilisi. Investigative and operational functions are also split at the Central Criminal Police Department. This process will continue and the separation will take place throughout Georgia. Conversion of the precinct into community-oriented policing has also begun. Accordingly, the institute of the Law Officer is being established. This process is already underway in the Criminal Police of Tbilisi”, - Vakhtang Gomelauri said.

The Minister Candidate of Internal Affairs also talked about the reform of the investigation system including the draft amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code and Action Plan, activities of the Department of Human Rights and Quality Monitoring of Investigations, and the new stage of Patrol Police Reform.

According to the Minister Candidate, the priority of the Ministry of Internal Affairs will still be the protection of human rights.

“It is noteworthy that a tool for assessing the risk of domestic violence against women and a restraining order monitoring mechanism has been put in place. Policies against law enforcement officers committing the domestic violence have been tightened. The number of murders of women perpetrated on the grounds of domestic crime has decreased”, - Vakhtang Gomelauri added.

The candidate of the Minister of Internal Affairs noted that the reform of the Border Police, development of modern techniques for border surveillance, as well as the development of a unified border risk analysis system and its integration into the relevant analytical system will remain in progress.

According to him, construction and rehabilitation works of police infrastructure will continue throughout the country. In his speech, Vakhtang Gomelauri also spoke about the Emergency Management Service.

Following the nomination of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Irakli Gharibashvili, the candidate of the Minister of Defense, appeared before the MPs.

“As per to the decision of our team, I am supposed to be returned to the executive position, as the Minister of Defense, which is a very honorable and proud proposition to me. I do understand that this imposes a great responsibility on our country and on our people and, above all, on our proud soldiers. For the very short time of my being a Minister or the Prime Minister, I have always had a sense of failure that I could not fully spend for the army, Ministry and the soldiers. Therefore, you probably understand that I am extremely motivated to spend my time, if appointed as a Minister, and fully serve the Ministry and our honorable and proud army", - Irakli Gharibashvili noted.

According to him, the goal of the Ministry of Defense of Georgia is to establish sustainable, efficient and effective self-defense systems in order to cope with the existing threats and protect Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Strengthening Georgia's defense forces, I would like to emphasize, is not directed against anyone and aims only at increasing defense capabilities and serving to enhance security in our region", - Irakli Gharibashvili added.

According to Minister Candidate, cooperation with NATO and partner countries is one of the key cornerstones for the development of defense forces in Georgia.

Irakli Garibashvili noted that the main task of the country shall be to strengthen its defense capability.

“In order to accomplish this task, our Ministry has developed a Strategic Defense Development Document and Transformation Plan that envisages a range of measures to have been taken for the development of the defense system and defense forces by 2020. This is in full accordance with the defense and containment policy pursued by the North Atlantic Alliance and implies the existence of capable defense systems within which capable and sustainable combat forces can effectively accomplish the country's defense task", - Irakli Gharibashvili noted.

According to him, the Government of Georgia, in the process of developing the national defense system, will continue to work on the introduction of a holistic defense approach. 

"The goal of holistic defense is to create mechanisms that will mobilize the country quickly and effectively for defense purposes in the event of aggression", – the Candidate said. "The creation of a total defense system should redistribute responsibilities between the defense forces, state agencies and the population”, – Irakli Garibashvili reported.

According to him, the implementation of the initiatives provided by the NATO-Georgia substantial package, within which bilateral and multilateral formats will be applied in order to maintain effective support from the Alliance, will contribute to achieve a high degree of compatibility with NATO.

According to Irakli Gharibashvili, effective steps are planned for military-scientific research, development of military industry and increase of its export potential.

The Minister Candidate also noted that in addition to the development of the military-medical capabilities, the personnel of the Ministry of Defense, their family members, veterans, and family members of military personnel killed in the civil service will be able to benefit from the improved medical services.

According to the Minister Candidate, the compulsory military service will be organized in the way it is practiced in the civilized world.

“What has evolved in recent years has been the catastrophe and tragedy of our nation. I mean the initiative of the so-called political opponents, the National Movement and the members their affiliated political party - Girchi. The initiative, which attempts to directly degrade our society, is absolutely unacceptable. I will not hesitate and would like to point out without any political correctness that the activities of this organization or sect directly endanger the strength of our state and our army.
I will not hesitate to say that this is a direct undermining of our state. I believe we will jointly work on this issue. One of the first tasks and concerns of my ministry will be to address this issue in the shortest possible time.
We must organize compulsory military service as it is practiced in the civilized world. We will actively consider the experience of the EU countries, the experience of the Baltic states. These days I have been introduced to a Swiss experience that is unique. There are other experiences, such as Israel, which is one of my exemplars. Thus, I look forward to working with you and actively addressing these issues. However, the main concern will be the completion of the compulsory military service reform", - Irakli Gharibashvili noted.

According to Irakli Gharibashvili, the candidate for the post of Minister of defense, one of the main concerns of his ministry will be the “quality of life of soldiers”.

“I will focus on order, discipline, nutrition, and equipment. We will improve their living conditions. We will take care of improving their social conditions: whether it be a rise in salaries, a decent health package, proper insurance. We will also take care of infrastructure development. I will be in constant communication and monitoring to ensure that our infrastructure is up to date with world-class standards. We will get more sports, more trainings, more workshops in the army”, - Irakli Gharibashvili said.

In his speech, the Minister candidate of Defense noted that the development of the military industry is a major challenge in the occupied territories.

“We have a great challenge - it is the occupation of our country. 20% of our territories are occupied. This is certainly the first kind of challenge. All considered, it is important that our army remains strong. Obviously, I do not mean to strengthen our troops against anyone or anything, but my desire - to develop the military industry. This is one of my top priorities.
The Ministry of Defense, like other Ministries, annually spend tens of millions, for their needs such as on the purchase of ammunition for example, which is one of the major problems today. One of my main projects during my ministry and then as Prime Minister was to build a ammunition enterprise in Georgia. I believe we should do that and start producing today, of course, all kinds of weapons, except for nuclear weapons. I think we will be able to accomplish this task”, - Irakli Gharibashvili added.

Speaking about the reform of compulsory military service, the Minister Candidate of Defense also emphasized the reserve system.

At the joint sitting of the committees, the MPs also listened to Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the State Minister Candidate for Reconciliation and Civic Equality.

"We have been living under obvious Russian occupation for 11 years, regularly dealing with the very difficult legacy we received after the war in August 2008, which still continues by the construction of illegal barricades in the same village of Gugutiantkari, by detention of our compatriots in the church in the village of Adzvistavu or by setting restrictions to unhindered travels in the occupied territories. Of course, it is the hardest thing when it comes to human life. There are 4 moving cases for our young fellows, Basharuli, Otkhozoria, Tatunashvili and Kvaratskhelia – thus is a tragedy not only for their families but for the whole community, too. All this shows and reminds us that we are dealing with a very lively process, a living threat that is a daily challenge for our country and tens of thousands of our fellow citizens thus making us very prudent and principled in overcoming these issues”, - Ketevan Tsikhelashvili noted.

According to her, the Georgian population of Gali and Akhalgori are particularly vulnerable, where their ethnicity is the basis of discrimination.

"That is why these people, their rights, have been improved, and in the future our policy will be even greater. We also do not forget the population of Kodori, which is even more restricted, even with the limited possibility of the unhindered travels”, – the Minister Candidate noted.

According to Ketevan Tsikhelashvili, the situation in the whole Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region is complicated: from socio-economic point of view to those of humanitarian and human rights.

“The situation of young people is particularly grave. The outspoken pressure on the Abkhazian and Ossetian society is increasing from year to year resulting in a growing discontent and frustration inside", - Ketevan Tsikhelashvili highlighted.

As the Minister Candidate pointed out, after 11 years, the so-called recognition of independence by the Russian side has become the point of complete isolation for these regions.

“I have said it many times and I will reiterate today: the situation is not in the interests of either Georgians, Abkhazians or Ossetians. This works unequivocally against each of us, and it should also become a motif for us to take a step further towards dialogue, common interests, cooperation. This is the only right step in the future. I am absolutely convinced that this situation will not serve Russian interests in the long run. However, this policy now serves its military and political objectives in the short or medium term and is supported by military bases, tens of thousands of military personnel in our occupied territories and 100 kilometers of barbed wire that divides our society”, - Ketevan Tsikhelashvili noted.

According to her, the number of people who can access to the rest of Georgia or have such desire from the occupied territories is constantly increasing from year to year.

As the State Minister Candidate for Reconciliation and Civic Equality noted, today the channels of Georgian-Abkhazian and Georgian-Ossetian contacts, dialogue at different levels, the number and range of common projects are much larger than they were in previous years.

“This is very important news. There are many factors here, but unequivocally, this is the result of our consistent and very cohesive peace policy engagement and reconciliation. All the more, we started implementation of these practices from scratch in 2012”, - Ketevan Tsikhelashvili noted
.
According to her, there are clear answers to the existing challenges: peacekeeping, sustainable and unhindered development, helping people and taking proactive steps in the peace policy.

Ketevan Tsikhelashvili drew attention to the peace initiative "Step Towards a Better Future" and noted that the initiative not only had unprecedented international support but "had and has unprecedented interest and feedback from the regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali".

In her speech, the ministerial nominee briefed lawmakers on 10 key priorities that will determine civilian integration policy.

After the reports, the Minister Candidate answered the questions of the MPs.

“Most of the questions were answered and the fact is that today's discussion was quite productive and meaningful. We have dealt with a lot of issues and heard specific visions, specific plans, which is reassuring that these ministries will continue to act in the right direction”, - the Chairman of the Legal Issues Committee noted.

Irakli Sesiashvili, the Chairman of Defense and Security Committee wished success to the candidates.

"I would like to welcome the candidates here, as well as the PM Candidate and the government program. Reforms are continuing for a better country and a better future, and I am confident that we are all driven by common interest”, - Irakli Sesiashvili said.

According to Sopho Kiladze, the Chair of the Committee of Human Rights and Civil Integration, the continuation of the course, which is called a systematic approach to human rights, was witnessed in the speeches of all the four candidates.

“In the case of all candidates, the linearity is unchanged - human rights and human rights gain stand out as a priority. I'm sure that next year, Ms. Tea will inform us about even fewer Georgian lawsuits to be filed in Strasbourg. This will be another indicator that we are on the right track”, - Sopho Kiladze noted.

According to the Chairman of the Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, Giorgi Kakhiani noted that today's discussion was very interesting.

"It was mentioned in the speeches of all the Minister Candidates that reforms in the relevant fields are planned and legislative changes are expected in different directions. We are ready for cooperation, ready to undertake important work in this direction. I am sure that together we will be able to do a lot of good for our country", - Giorgi Kakhiani said.

The Parliamentary Committee declared the vote of confidence to the Minister Candidates.