NGOs Statement in Response to the Statement of the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia
We would like to react on the footage broadcasted on April 22, in evening news of TV Channel 9, which concerned construction of the Hudon Hydro Power Plant.
We paid attention to Kakha Kaladze’s, the Minister of Energy and Natrual Resources of Georgia, extremely incorrect statement about NGOs that criticize construction of the Hudon HPP. Namely, Mr. Kaladze reported that: “the future of the state shall not depend on individual NGOs and on funding received by them from abroad for some suspended projects”.
Such an erroneous opinion on civil society’s role in policy formation and decision making process is especially alarming from Mr. Kaladze’s side, who is the high government official and at the same time the first Deputy Prime Minister. Frequently, civil society and government representatives have different positions, however, it’s a usual process characteristic to the democratic governance. Therefore, submission of unreasoned accusations and using of various conspiracy theories in response to NGOs’ remarks is absolutely unacceptable. We regret if government of Georgia intends to use similar rhetoric in relationship with the Civil Sector.
Connection of NGOs’ remarks to vague financial interests is especially surprising from the side of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Georgia, when high officials of the Ministry themselves possessed commercial interests in energy field until very recently. The society has not received clear answers if they have sold their shares in energy companies so far.
Green Alternative
Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
Transparency International – Georgia
Human Rights Center
Open Society Georgia Foundation
Fridrich Ebert Foundation –Representation in Georgia
Svaneti Tourizm Center
Guram Tikanadze Svaneti Youth Center
Newspaper “Samkhretis Karibche”
Georgian Civil Society Development Association
Kutaisi Information Center
Stephantsminda
Teachers’ Union “Education and World“
„Article 42 or the Constitution“
Coalition “Public Defender”
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