New Foreign Minister appointed
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Thursday, November 13
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili named former deputy Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili as new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Beruchashvili claims she, with all the government members, will fight for Georgia’s European future.
Before being appointed on the post, Beruchashili quit her post together with former Foreign Minister Maia Panjkidze and her two deputies. Beruchashvili stated then that Georgia’s European course was at risk. However, soon Beruchashvili and another deputy of Panjikidze, Davit Jalaghania, decided to retain their posts.
Beruchashvili recognizes that she had some questions. “My suspicions, which lasted only a few hours, were an emotional misunderstanding. I want to thank the Prime Minister and other government officials, who answered my questions clearly,” Beruchashvili says, and emphasizes that Georgia’s foreign course is irreversible.
Gharibashvili stated that he selected the candidate based on her qualifications.
“Beruchashvili knows exactly what is to be done in the foreign field, as well as the tasks and challenges facing the country and how we can continue the course, which is being implemented by the government of Georgia,” Gharibashvili says.
Beruchashvili really has vast experience in her field. She served as a Deputy Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Georgia in 1998. In 1998-2000 she was the Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Georgia. In 2000-2003 she took the post of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia.
In 2003-2004 she served as Deputy State Minister. For several months in 2004 she was the State Minister of Integration with European and Euro-Atlantic Structures. In 2011-2013 she was Chief Adviser of the Vice-Premier, the State Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration. Since April 1, 2013 she took the position of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia before appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Former Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaniani said, “This is her choice. Of course, I respect her choice. I wish her to show herself principled in the future”, Zalkaliani said.
Majority representatives welcomed Beruchashvili’s promotion. However, they admitted that the Prime Minister did not have consultations with them regarding her candidacy.
Members of the United National Movement have some question marks over the new Foreign Minister’s sincerity.
