FROM THE EDITOR

Dr. Emzar Djgerenaia

Georgia celebrates Easter with its rules and obligations once again.

Electioneering starts again with people plunging into the cascade of promises. Irrespective of our wishes, market economy machine gathers speed and rushes everybody – people with ranks or without them in an unknown direction. It is unknown because no one has azimuth that would bring Georgians to the Land of Promise.
The Holy Land is seized with fire, Christ’s motherland is burning and the orthodox cannot get close to sanctities. During the elections to local self-government our people will not be able to get close to the real power. Compared with previous period, the difference is that the right to manipulate elections belonged to two political organizations, but now others can enjoy this privilege, too; the antimonopoly law will not be broken during the election fraud. Nevertheless, it is a great achievement for us because competition will sharpen, political forces will try to play the role of “fervent and fair defenders of working people and helpless pensioners”. During this game, they will probably make some good deeds. Our people who constantly expect some changes and reforms do not need anything as much as their good deeds.
At this time, economy moves in a groove. The greatest burden lies on energy expenses. Any business concedes a great sector of its calculations to this very article and it catastrophically reduces realization in the conditions of population’s existing spending power due to the inflation of prices on goods and services. Everybody tries to “steal” energy in any way. Yet, this channel of theft gets limited on a daily basis; price of production and services rises. We forecasted 25% increase of consumer goods basket in the first quarter of 2002 as compared with 2001 year indices, which affected gravely the common growth rate of trade and services and resulted in 18% decrease.
In the conditions of common economic boom, the first quarter was a period of real regression. As far as we know, economic activity declines. Added to this, are tense relations with Russia, lack of real and conceptual reforms. We have not only “folded” Georgia like a “napkin” from the institutional viewpoint of customs system, but also united Kazbegi with Vale, Lagodekhi with Tbilisi (I swear to God, we are alchemists), we want to reduce the current 18 kinds of taxes to 4 and we intend to create investment, hothouse and gift agency. Generally speaking, there is a complete stillness in economy, and we are in a “teasing? mood.
All this gives us the grounds to forecast that nothing will change in the second quarter and stagnation will not end. Is there anything new in it? ? Nothing, only that contrasted with earlier periods, business will become expensive due to the energy payment, not to mention new rise in prices. Yet, life runs in a groove and economy moves forward. My well-informed reader will, probably, ask: “Forward, but where?”. You’d better ask this question to political leaders before elections when they offer their programmes that are as similar to each other as two halves of an apple.
Yet, I would like to remind you something ?Bismarck said that never people say as much lies as after hunting, during the war and before elections. You should have the patience of the Almighty so get ready for it.
Easter is nearing again in our country. The Holy Land is seized with fire; sanctities are grieving. Elia mountain has been endowed with God’s new grace as well as with flowers of almond tree. Let us pray because good deeds have been “postponed” till autumn. At least prays might heal our wounds.