The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has met the representatives of the scientific society. The Georgian scholars who became winners in the contest of the Rustaveli Fund scholarships and scientific grants program, were awarded today in Cortyard Marriott Hotel. Mikheil Saakashvili attended the ceremony.

According to Mikheil Saakashvili's statement financing of scholars will become systematic.

"The financing of scientific grants will increase by 50% this year. But we are not going to stop here. Our aim is to bring young Georgian scholars working abroad back to Georgia. We have to create all the possible conditions for them to come back at least for a month, to work here and share their knowledge with their fellow countrymen" - Mikheil Saakashvili stated.

In "Cortyard Marriott" Hotel, Mikheil Saakashvili himself handed over the certificates to the supervisors of the projects that became winners in the state scientific 2007 grants contest, as well as to the 15 Georgian scholars having Shota Rustaveli and Ilia Chavchavadze scholarships.

"Strong science means strong Georgia. If Georgia loses its scholars and level of scientific researches we wont be able to admit that Georgia is still developing. Unfortunately in the last few years because of the incapability of the Georgian state and insufficient support this level decreased significantly. Scholars can't be blamed. We still have top-level scholars and researchers, we still have people who can compete and by innovational approaches surprise the world. The problem is that there were laboratories, institutes, centers, that were being created for years, destroyed in Georgia. We still have a great potential. We have to generate the stimulus and the feeling of hopelessness has to come to the end finally. On the contrary - we have to support those people who diligently do their work" - Mikheil Saakashvili stated.

Communications Office
of the President of Georgia