Minister of Finance Nikoloz Gilauri of Georgia

Gilauri has previously served on several important positions in the Georgian Government including the Minister for Energetics in the period between 2004 and 2007 and as the Finance Minister since 30 August 2007.

Commenting on the negotiation process concerning gas delivery from Azerbaijan and Turkey, Nikoloz Gilauri said that with Azerbaijan an agreement has been reached on general amounts of gas supply, and now talks are being held concerning the day-by-day schedule for January and February.

Another opposition lawmaker, Ivliane Khaindrava of the Georgian Republican Party, said that on the day two explosions interrupted the supply of Russian gas to Georgia, Energy Minister Nikoloz Gilauri was on a visit to Iran -- implying that he knew in advance that Georgia would urgently need Iranian gas.