Georgian President Signs Amendments Abolishing Security Council
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, November 22
Georgian President, Giorgi Margvelashvili signed amendments which envisage that after the inauguration of the newly elected president, a new constitution will enter into force, abolishing the National Security Council (NSC).
Margvelashvili expresses concern that the government has not set up any agency replacing the National Security Council yet.
President’s Parliamentary Secretary, Ana Natsvlishvili stated that despite many calls from the president, the government has not created an agency where high officials will take political decisions regarding the country's defense capabilities.
“As soon as a new president takes an oath, constitutional amendments will enter into force abolishing the state advisory body of strategic importance, such as the Security Council,” she said.
Natsvlishvili believes that nonexistence of such body for the country, like Georgia, is inadmissible.
“It is important to set up any other agency that will fulfill the functions of the Security Council and create the platform enabling high officials to work on the issues the Security Council was authorized over,” she added.
The National Security Council of Georgia, an advisory body for the President of Georgia dealing with matters of national security, was set up to organize the military development and defense of the country.
The president of Georgia is the head of the National Security Council, approving the structure of the National Security Council Office, its personnel, and regulations concerning the office and its subdivision.
According to the amendments to the Georgian Constitution, adopted by the parliament in September 2017, as soon as the new edition of Constitution takes effect, NSC will be abolished in order to establish a new body – the National Defense Council which will function only during wartime.
Margvelashvili and his administration say it is uncertain when will the agency start functioning.
