Saakashvili Vows to Increase Pensions and Allowances

Before leaving for Azerbaijan this morning Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili met with the pensioners and IDPs from Abkhazia, who were queuing up for their salaries and allowances.
 
During a brief conversation the Georgian President pledged that pensions, salaries and allowances would be distributed in time.

?It is even possible to increase a 14 Lari ($7) pension up to 20 Lari ($10). Of course, it is not much, but you will receive your pensions and allowances in time,? Mikheil Saakashvili said, adding that the authorities will start to cover the pension backlog in the near future.

Finance Minister Zurab Noghaideli said on March 2 that budgetary targets in February were met with surplus that would enable to cover salaries and pension for February and March without delays.