Azernews.Az

By Kamila Aliyeva

Georgian Prime Minister Georgi Kvirikashvili disclosed the details of new state appointments at a governmental meeting on July 12.

Deputy Energy Minister Ilia Eloshvili has been appointed as Georgia’s new Minister of Energy.

The post of Energy Minister fell vacant after Minister Kakha Kaladze was named as Tbilisi mayoral candidate, meaning he had to leave his ministerial role.

Kvirikashvili said that Eloshvili has been deputy minister since 2012 and has contributed to all projects the Energy Ministry has implemented since then.

"He has been minister too for several months so he has this experience. I’m sure he will be successful in the important task he is given. He is experienced in both the private and public sectors as well as in international programs”, Kvirikashvili said.

Eloshvili has held the Energy Minister post from September to November of 2016 when the post was vacant before the newly elected Parliament gave a vote of confidence to the new government.

Kaladze also held the position of Vice Prime Minister. This role has now been given to Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze.

Kvirikashvili said that by appointing Janelidze as Vice Prime Minister, foreign relations officially become Georgia’s high priority.

"The foreign direction has always been our priority but this appointment once again stressed it”, Kvirikashvili said.

The Prime Minster underlined the successful completion of the process of visa liberalization saying that the lion's share of the work in this direction was fulfilled by the Foreign Ministry.

“Also during his tenure as Deputy Minister of Economy, Mikhail Janelidze was the chief negotiator in the process of formalizing an agreement on free trade with Europe. Thus, we consider this to be an important decision and think that the nomination of an external direction in the priorities will also benefit the process of country’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration,” Kvirikashvili added.

From March 28, citizens of Georgia were granted visa-free entry to EU member countries. Negotiations on visa liberalization for Georgia began back in 2008 as part of the Eastern Partnership Program. Georgia entered the practical phase of those talks in 2012 as it prepared for associate EU membership. Georgia abolished visa requirements for EU citizens back in 2006.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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