Nodar Khaduri

Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri. (Interpressnews.)

TBILISI, DFWatch–The government in Georgia has answered its critics who say that the economy is in crisis, assuring them that all commitments and plans will be fulfilled and that the economy is in no danger.

Georgian Dream coalition MPs on Wednesday met with the ministers of economy, finance and regional development. The meeting was closed to the media.

Speaker of Parliament Davit Usupashvili said after the meeting that the coalition has heard reports that will be the new investments.

“We soon expect serious activation in this direction,” he added.

A few days ago, Georgia’s National Statistics Department, GeoStat, published new figures which show that GDP growth in June was negative 0.8 percent compared to last year. In second quarter of 2013, it was 1.3 percent and 1.8 percent in the first six months.

The report was followed by strong criticism from the National Movement party which claimed that Georgian Dream is carrying out an incorrect policy and that the situation is further worsening.

The UNM’s presidential candidate Davit Bakradze asked Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili for a meeting to discuss the crisis, but Ivanishvili didn’t respond.

The government doesn’t share the UNM’s concern. Soon, the two ministries of economy and finance published a common statement explaining that there is no alarming situation in the country right now.

On Wednesday, ministers visited parliament. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Minister of Economy, says that there is no catastrophic situation and that the outlook is ‘positive enough.’

“Low rates are caused by specific results. Those results are domestic and external, but we have no catastrophic situation,” he told journalists.

“We must do our best together in order to get rid of political tension and achieve a healthy development.”

Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri said he believes there is no problem in the budget either and that all social programs will be financed as promised, including increased expenditures.