Georgia recalls several ambassadors over 'new policy'
By Sabina Idayatova
The Georgian government has recalled its ambassadors from several countries.
"The new Georgian government intends to staff its embassies with those diplomats who will pursue the country's new policy," Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze said commenting on the decision.
Georgia held parliamentary elections on October 1, 2012. Bidzina Ivanishvili's opposition coalition Georgian Dream won the election, after which a new government was formed. Ivanishvili serves as prime minister in the new cabinet.
According to the Georgian legislation, only the president has the right to dismiss an ambassador upon a recommendation from the foreign minister.
The Georgian government's decision affected both ambassadors who have resigned on their own and those whose term of rotation has expired.
Panjikidze said that so far the Georgian Foreign Ministry has recalled five ambassadors -- who represent Georgia in Austria and the OSCE, the U.S., Latvia, China and Hungary.
Panjikidze also said that there were several ambassadors who would be replaced as part of a routine diplomatic rotation.
"We have representative offices in 65 countries. We decided to replace ambassadors to the countries that are the most important for us. Firstly, the Foreign Ministry recalled the ambassadors whose rotation period has expired. Therefore, in these cases the question is about things that do not depend on the policy. This caused no disturbances and many of those who want to continue working in the Foreign Ministry or serve as ambassadors to another country will have this opportunity," Panjikidze said.
She also informed journalists about the list of new heads of diplomatic missions submitted for signing to the National Security Council, which includes nine diplomats.
"There are important embassies, which should be staffed with such persons who will pursue a new policy and will not serve the interests of [President Mikheil Saakashvili's] United National Movement," Panjikidze said.
Panjikidze also said the disseminated information on recall of
18 ambassadors is not true.
The minister clarified that Georgian Ambassador to Ukraine Grigol
Katamadze was not recalled, and his rotation period expires in
January. Georgia's Permanent Representative to the UN Kakha Lomaia
was not recalled either, though he has announced his intention to
resign. His rotation period will expire on February 25.
Panjikidze also said that the resignations of the head of Georgia's mission in the U.S., Temur Yakobashvili, and Georgia's Ambassador to Italy Kote Gabashvili were accepted, while Lomaia's term in office was expiring in late February anyway.
"All the career diplomats will remain at their posts, unless their term in office expires," Panjikidze said.