Parliament starts discussions over National Security Council Draft
By Tea Mariamidze
Monday, March 4
The Defense and Security Committee of the Georgian Parliament discussed the Bill on Planning and Coordination of the National Security Policy introduced by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Government, Natia Mikeladze.
The bill was initiated by the government and defines the status and purpose of the National Security Council (NSC), its authorities, composition and duties and powers, as well as the NSC Staff.
NSC used to be an advisory body for the President of Georgia dealing with matters of national security, and it was set up to organize the military development and defense of the country. The president of Georgia was 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.
However, according to the amendments to the Georgian Constitution, adopted by the parliament in September 2017, when the new edition of Constitution took effect in December 2019, NSC was abolished in order to establish a new similar body subordinated to the Prime Minister.
During the discussions, parliamentary minority European Georgia MP, Irakli Abesadze introduced the alternative version which envisages introduction of certain competences of the President in the NSC activity and appointment of the temporary member – an independent party as the Secretary.
The Chair of the Committee, Irakli Sesiashvili stated that the NSC is the consultative body at the Prime Minister, the President cannot be engaged in the capacity of the permanent member.
Dimitri Gabunia, Parliamentary Secretary of the President, says an amendment will be introduced to the law which will envisage keeping the President informed about the work of the National Security Council.
“Finally, we agreed to include a special Article, which will precisely define providing the President with information. Everything will be on the institutional level, within the constitutional authority,” Dimitri Gabunia said.
According to him, the form of the president’s involvement in the NCS work will be finally defined until the second hearing of the draft bill.
“Naturally, the President cannot be the member of the Prime Minister's advisory body, since it creates some inconveniences and we have shared it from the very beginning. Now there is talk about the format and formulation of providing the president with information,” he explained.
