Foreign Minister candidate: My major task will be securing Georgia from Foreign threats

The candidate for the post of Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mikheil Janelidze, has stated that his "key priority” if approved on the new position would be defending the country "from major foreign threats.” 

Janelidze, who was nominated on the post on December 26 as the only new face in the 19-member Cabinet of Ministers of Georgia, made the statement today at Georgia’s Kutaisi Parliament building. 

The nominee had to answer the lawmakers’ questions over his priorities and views if appointed as a Foreign Minister during a joint session of three parliamentary committees: Diaspora and Caucasus Issues Committee,   Committee of European Integration and Foreign Relations Committee. 

The priorities and targets in Georgia’s foreign policy are specified by the current Georgian Government.”

My major task would be protecting of Georgia’s security from foreign threats.” 

We will also take steps to strengthen our sovereignty and to reintegrate the country,” Janelidze said. 

The Foreign Minister candidate stressed that fulfilling of the tasks could happen if Georgia successfully continued its integrating into the Euro-Atlantic space. 

This path has been chosen by Georgians as Europe is close to our values and thinking,” Janelidze said. 

He emphasised that reaching Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic goals would also be one of his utmost priorities. 

According to the Georgian legislation if a Prime Minister resigned a new candidate for the Prime Minister’s post must be named by the Parliamentary majority. 

Since Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili resigned on December 23 his replacement, Foreign Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, was nominated by the Georgian Dream (GD) majority. 

Now the Parliament must vote both for the New Prime Minister candidate and the Cabinet of Ministers tomorrow. 

Both require at least 76 votes to be confirmed. GD occupies 85 seats in the legislative body.