Ex-Georgian minister named Ukraine’s Health Minister

Georgia’s former Minister of Health has surrendered his citizenship and been approved as one of Ukraine’s cabinet ministers.

Ukraine’s Parliament approved its new cabinet yesterday, which included former Georgian minister Aleksandre Kvitashvili. He was named as Ukraine’s new Health Minister.

"For the past three months I’ve worked on reforms in Ukraine but my love for this country spans a much longer time,” said Kvitashvili when he delivered his acceptance speech in the Rada (Ukraine’s Parliament).

"I accepted the offer of this position due to the deepest respect of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. I am proud of receiving citizenship of this great country, which has a bright future,” he said.

In order to be eligible for the post, Kvitashvili had to relinquish his Georgian citizenship. Kvitashvili was Georgia’s Health Minister in 2008 and 2009.

He was one of three foreigners to be named on Ukraine’s cabinet. Aivaras Abromavichus of Lithuania is Ukraine’s new Minister of Economy and Natalya Yaresko of American is the country’s new Finance Minister.

All three officials surrendered their home citizenship and were granted Ukrainian citizenship.