The Committee heard the Defense Minister, Juansher Burchuladze based on the request of the Political Groups “Reforms Group” and “For Georgia”.

The mandatory attendance of the Minister at the Committee sitting was requested by the Political Groups for reporting on the issues related to the operation of the military base under the conditions of a new civil airport on the territory of Vaziani.

Providing that the military facilities and the shooting range located in Vaziani are attributed to the secret objects, the Committee held a sitting in camera. After the sitting, the Ministry and the Chair of the Committee summed up the discussed issues.

“We discussed the possible development of Vaziani and the airport and agreed that the radical position on the non-construction of the airport does not exist. MPs heard the position of the defense forces. Now, we need to wait for the assessment of the experts engaged by the state for the estimation of the capacity of the airport construction from various perspectives. Anyway, no potential impediments to the discussed issue exist today”, - said the Minister.

According to the Chair of the Committee, Irakli Beraia, the meeting with the Minister on a new civil airport and the security of the military infrastructure adjusting the airport was very interesting.

“The Minister gave comprehensive answers to all the questions asked by the Political Groups. It can be clearly declared that the construction of a new international airport will serve as a significant step for the economic development and enhancement of the transit function of the country, as well as Georgia will have yet another strategic facility. The construction of a new airport, according to the preliminary data, poses no threat to civil aviation since Tbilisi International Airport is located at the same distance from the military objects today. There were speculations that allegedly a new airport would hinder the operation of the military infrastructure, which does not constitute the truth”, - he stated.