Government, Businesspeople Discuss Financial Amnesty

President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime-Minister Zurab Zhvania and other members of the government met the representatives of big business reiterating their willingness to create favorable business environment.

?Each businessman should enjoy equal rules of the game. You only need to pay taxes honestly,? Saakashvili told the businesspeople.

?Perhaps there would be difficluties for several months, but this period is necessary to create a new system, an effective investment environment,? Saakashvili added.

President and the members of the government presented a draft law, which would provide for tax amnesty for the businesspeople who would declare previously hidden tax arrears below 1 million Lari (approximately $530,000).

Those with higher arrears will have to re-pay 10% of the total debt, with the rest of arrears will be restructured.

Representative of the big business hailed the government?s initiative, however added, that the draft needs further improvement.