Outgoing Defence Minister says he is considering taking up Georgia’s NATO Ambassador role
Juansher Burchuladze, the outgoing Defence Minister, on Thursday said he had received an offer from Irakli Kobakhidze to consider taking up the position of the country’s Ambassador to NATO. Photo: Ministry of Defence
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Juansher Burchuladze, the outgoing Defence Minister, on Thursday said he had received an offer from Irakli Kobakhidze, the candidate for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia, to consider taking up the position of the country’s Ambassador to NATO.
I received an offer - for which I thank the new Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze - to consider the position of Georgian Ambassador to NATO. I will probably accept this position, although I have time to think”, Burchuladze said.
The Minister said Kobakhidze had offered the “entire team” to stay in their positions, but added he had felt the desire to leave his position after the adoption of the new Defence Code last year.
Burchuladze thanked the outgoing Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for the opportunity of working with him and called his term at the Ministry a “very successful period” and a “proud five years” in his life.
I am very proud and want to thank each and every soldier”, he added.
Burchuladze also noted he would now take a break after “13 years in public service” to consider his potential career as Ambassador to NATO.
Irakli Garibashvili, the Prime Minister of Georgia who was on Thursday elected as the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said he was taking “pride” in “successful years of service” as the country’s PM between 2013-2015 and 2021-2024.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday praised the “joint efforts” of the outgoing Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the incumbent Georgian Dream party Chair Irakli Kobakhidze, expected to replace the former as the head of the Government, in their advancement of “political and economic success” for the country.
Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday discussed the country’s new defence code with defence minister Juansher Burchuladze and other officials of the body, with the document involving a modernising of the conscript and reserve systems and further steps to ensure better social conditions for servicemembers.
A session of the Congress of the ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday elected Irakli Garibashvili, the country’s Prime Minister who announced his resignation on Monday, as the party’s new Chair, while nominating incumbent GD Char Irakli Kobakhidze as his replacement.
Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly confirmed Prime Minister, on Friday introduced Irakli Chikovani as the country’s new Defence Minister.
Prospects of cooperation between Georgia and the United States were discussed on Monday between Irakli Chikovani, the newly appointed Minister of Defence and Robin Dunnigan, the United States Ambassador to the country.