"Our main task is to equalize the level of living between different regions," the statement was made by the Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili at the forum in Akhaltsikhe.

The forum, entitled "Institutional Dialogue of State and Local Authorities", was opened today and representatives of local self-government representatives, executive and legislative officials attended the meeting.

The Prime Minister said in his speech that regional governments need qualified staff.

"This inequality, which we have today, is one of the most important challenges and of course this type of reform needs human resources, we need very qualified staff in the regional authorities," Kvirikashvili said.

Speaker of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze said that local self-governments should be financially strengthened and their powers should be expanded.

"Our strategy must be precisely that expansion of powers and strengthening of financial resources for local self-government. The National Strategy for Decentralization is a step in this direction and the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure is working on this document, "said Irakli Kobakhidze.

Tomorrow, representatives of self-government bodies will voice their initiatives.