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“When there is one plane for the president, why do we need second one?!”

December 14, 2012
Interpresnews

On December 12, Vako Avaliani, the Advisor to the Defence Minister said, one out of two planes was seized from the president of Georgia. The Defence Ministry intends to sell it. President’s spokesperson Manana Manjgaladze said the state will lose by selling the plane.

“It does not mean that the president will remain without a plane. He had two planes. The first plane was also bought by the Defence Ministry and it cost too expensive. If we maintained the second plane too, the budget will have to spend 850 000 lari every month,” Avaliani said, adding the money this will save will be spent on social issues. 

“Information released by the Defence Ministry as if president has two planes is not true,” statement of the president’s spokesperson Manana Manjgaladze reads, which was published on the website of the president’s administration.

“The President uses only one plane, while the other one belongs to the government. After the elections this situation did not change. The president still uses only one plane, while the other one belongs to the Defence Ministry. The Ministry claims that the plane was purchased through leasing and decision on abolishing the contract with leasing company will automatically result into loss of already paid sums. In addition, lease-procurement is generally approved and appropriated method,” said Manana Manjgaladze.

In parallel to it, deputy defence minister Aleksandre Burchuladze made comment on this issue after the government’s session finished. “This procurement has Top Secret status. Consequently, it is impossible to make information about the plane public until Top Secret status is remove from it,” he said.

As for the information spread by the president’s spokesperson, government members also used the plane besides the president; Burchuladze said it is easy to check this information.

“Date, rout and purpose of every flight made by the Plane # 1 and Plane # 2 is registered,” said Aleksandre Burchuladze.

He also spoke about necessity to make decision and added that ministry could not justify payment of several dozen million lari for the plane during many years whilst there is serious deficiency in the ministry.

“We will take care of social conditions of our soldiers; when we have one plane, why should we need the second?!” Aleksandre Burchuladze said.

As for the procedures to remove Top Secret status from the case, deputy minister said relevant decision is needed which requires some time – presumably two weeks.

On December 14, Defence Ministry released information about flights of President Mikheil Saakashvili made by [disputable] Galfstrim G 450. Vako Avaliani said Top Secret status was removed from the information about the flights made in 2011. 

He added that on September 26-30, 2011 flight Tbilisi-Batumi-Vienna-Warsaw-Tbilisi was made by this plane. On September 29-30 second summit of the Eastern Partnership was held in Warsaw and President of Georgia also attended it.

From July 26 to August 4 in 2011 flight was made through Tbilisi-Batumi-Las Palmas-Zander-Lima-Cusco-Mermuda-Northolt-Batumi-Tbilisi. Vako Avaliani said, according to official information, on July 29, President Mikheil Saakashvili attended inauguration ceremony of Ollanta Humala, president of Peru. 

“It is only short list of flights made by Galfstrim G450. Georgian state budget funded flights of the leaders of the United National Movement to Las-Palma, Nice and many tourist centers of the world. Flights were made by this plane in 2012 too but they still have Top Secret status,” said Avaliani. 

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