FROM THE EDITOR

Dr. Emzar Djgerenaia

Fairy-tale about Medea’s tragedy
and Jonjoli index
For though woman be timorous enough in all else,
and as regards courage, a coward at the mere sight of steel,
yet in the moment she finds her honor wronged,
no heart is filled with deadlier thoughts than hers.
Euripides “Medea”
Exchange rate of lari strengthens against dollar
and falls against Jonjohli

Professor Misha Jibuti It is really strange, if there is Big Mac index, why should not there be Johnjoli index? Perhaps, it is favorite food of a small country’s noble people that unlike Big Mac makes no one fat? And what? Time will come and the world fighting with fatness will start eating jonjoli that is very useful and has little calories. Jonjoli index is still young. Misha Jibuti brought the index to life only a few years ago, and it does not yet stand firm on its feet, but strikes the whole population like a whip.
Inflation is said to make up 5,5%. The five is, certainly, a good number, but what is its meaning? Everything depends on against what and in what case. Here everything starts all over again.
I have recently gone hunting to the Aragvi Gorge. To tell you the truth, my friend and I have for a long time trampled down the snow, breathed cold air, but found nothing besides the TU-154 flying over us. How could we start shooting at it, moreover, there was a foreign flag on it, hence the matter might turn into an international scandal.
Upon returning to a cabin, we were met by Valeri, a local inhabitant and our friend, who in rough-and-ready fashion roasted pork and washed it down with vodka that had been imported from Tbilisi to Choporti. I resented: ? “Where are beasts lost?” – To this Valeri answered with sad smile that people had nothing to eat ? some died of hunger, others went abroad ? let alone beasts. I say that there are berries and something of the kind in the woods. He says that here forest berries are usually given to children and women to eat. Sometimes your mouth is even watering at green leafs. There is nothing for local people, not to mention others. But how, – I persisted, – you work and you do something (according to statistical data, 1 200 000 people are unemployed in Georgia). Indeed, – Valeri says, – indeed, we do something. We get up in the morning ? it is cold, there is neither electricity, nor food, but my wife still manages to scratch up something for children, and I look from afar with my mouth watering. God help you that you came here hunting, as I have not eaten anything for a week. If one sells a box of apples ? one buys 10 litres of petrol, and we also pay for electricity. If I sell a pig in Tbilisi ? I buy a sack of bran. And to grow up a pig we spent five sacks of bran.
When I listened to him, I recalled to my mind Jonjoli index. This peasant spoke honorablabout tough economy as a good economist, and he was right. I explained to him that business was legalized, smuggling was eradicated and budget revenues increased, pensions were now paid out and reforms would start, economy would recover and everything would be good. “When this happens, beasts will appear again”, – answered the peasant.
While he was complaining of his life, I caught eye of a huge pipe. “What is it”, – I asked? He said that it was Transcaucasian gas pipeline that was going to be sold, but we did not allow it to. I wondered: – “Why. This pipe has long been here, it is old and you might hardly have any use of it. If it is sold, the country will have gas, money and many problems will be solved”. He answered: “Yes, but I will not sell it to Russians, because they contradict our political tastes. It is our strategic unit and our wealth”. I ask: “What is more important to you ? your children who have no gas, you yourself starving because there are no jobs or who will be the pipeline owner? Besides, no one would heap the pipeline onto shoulders and carry it away. It will remain lying in Georgia and serving Georgians. “I’d rather let my children die than sell the pipe…”
Again I called Medea to mind. I do not know whether Euripides invented it or she really got angry with her children and husband and killed them. I looked at the peasant and wondered what he had in common with Medea. Only origin?
On my way back to the village, my friend and I were accompanied by Valeri. Wonderful fields and meadows stretched out in front of us. A forsaken farm was seen somewhere in the distance and a bit farther there were messy stacks and forsaken orchards. ? The places look so affluent! ? I uttered my thoughts. ? “What is the use of it? – the peasant says. “All this requires good care”.
– “And what about you yourself? – I asked. “You have so great prospects here. You should not always lay hopes on the government. You should not think that everything will somehow be settled and the state will help to feed hungry wives and children”.
My dear compatriots know well how many kilowatts of electric power comes to Georgia, which units work, how many stations we have, what happens in “Alaverdi” and “Kavkasioni”. They know well how much we owe for gas and the way negotiations are held with the Gasprom, but they also know that we do not have enough pressure in gas pipelines and that price of flour, cigarettes, drinks and petrol increased. They have never eaten Big Mac and have never heard of any inflation, but they know that jonjoli price rose. They do not want to go back home, they do not want war, but they know that their children need clothes and meals, that there should be warmth and light in their houses, and they themselves need jobs to pay for it.
Although theory of jonjoli index has not yet been written, yet if you want to make sure you can go to the Aragvi Gorge. There you will learn everything without any theories, you will be taken hunting and sent home with empty hands, without any prey, but instead with a heap of heavy thoughts.