Prime Minister Garibashvili visits western Georgia

Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili is visiting the Samegrelo province to present the Mayoral and Governor candidates of the Georgian Dream coalition to the local population ahead of the June 15 local elections.

In Samegrelo, he will also spend time with members of the local population and learn about the problem in their neighbourhood.

First up, Prime Minister Garibashvili presented the Governor candidates representing eight municipalities. He also named the Mayoral candidate of Zugdidi as Irakli Gogokhia and the Mayoral candidate of Poti as Irakli Kakulia.

Garibashvili began his speech in Mingrelian and said Samegrelo had always played a special role in Georgia's history. He also stressed the special relations between Mingrelians and Abkhazians.

"Abkhazia is very close here. Samegrelo feels most of the pain and difficulty, which is connected with Abkhazia, throughout all these years.

"You have always had good relations with Abkhazians and this is why I want to say here, in Samegrelo that we, Georgians and Abkhazians, are going to speak in our common language. We will regain our brothers' faith and we will be able to live together peacefully," PM Garibashvili said.

He said the Government aimed to create proper lives for internally displaced people (IDPs) and promised not a single refugee would be left without a home.

"Our Government has taken responsibility to take care of the health of our citizen," Garibashvili stated.

He also spoke about the new port in Anaklia and said a project feasibility study was currently taking place.