Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said at the parliamentary session on December 22 that the decision of the Ministry of Defense to relocate its military hospital from Tbilisi to Gori “is more an investment measure, rather than military” move.

Some opposition parliamentarians, including Davit Gamkrelidze from the New Rights party, expressed concern on December 22 that relocation of the military hospital from Tbilisi to Gori, which is about 30 kilometers away from the breakaway South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali, might undermine confidence towards the Georgian side’s peaceful initiatives.

But PM Nogaideli reiterated that the Georgian side is committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict and said that this decision to relocate hospital has nothing to do with South Ossetia.

“I call on other ministries as well to consider relocation of certain structures to the regions,” he added.