Caucasus regional NATO envoy reflects on political events in Georgia
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NATO’s representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia region James Appathurai says he is closely following the situation in Georgia following a change in government and is "glad” the country will not divert Georgia from its Euro-Atlantic path.
On his official Facebook page, Appathurai said the three former ministers, Irakli Alasania (Defence), Maia Panjikidze (Foreign Affairs) and Alex Petriashvili (European and Euro-Atlantic Integration), were pleasing to work with.
He wrote: "I am following the latest developments in Georgia closely. I would like to thank the three Ministers, with whom I've worked so closely over the past few years, for all their hard work and firm dedication to improve their country, and to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic future. I will also thank them personally for their friendship, which I hope to keep.”
"I was glad to see the Prime Minister's clear statement that these developments will not divert Georgia from its Euro-Atlantic path. This, I believe, reflects the will of the Georgian people.”
He ended his statement saying: "NATO and I personally, will remain committed to helping Georgia take the steps necessary to continue to move closer to NATO membership.”
US Ambassador in Georgia Richard Norland says people should not speculate about the dismissal of the country's Defence Minister and said the country must continue working towards its Euro-Atlantic goals.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made a special statement at a briefing after his meeting with the coalition majority at the Georgian Dream coalition office this evening, where he announced he had dismissed the country’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania.
Georgia’s Defence Minister Irakli Alasania believes two criminal investigations related to the Ministry of Defense and general staff of the Georgian Armed Forces (GAF) was "obviously politically motivated”.
Four current and one former high officials from the Ministry of Defence have been arrested for allegedly misspending 4.1 million GEL.