FM nominee: “working, cooperating with Georgian diaspora” to be “key priority for state”

Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the Parliament's European Integration Committee who on Monday was nominated for the post of the country’s Foreign Minister by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, on Tuesday highlighted the importance of “working and cooperating with the Georgian diaspora” as “one of the key priorities for the state”.

In her speech at a joint meeting of parliamentary committees, Botchorishvili said new programmes would be developed “to attract highly qualified young specialists, help successful young Georgians born abroad connect with their homeland, culture, and traditions, and foster closer ties with their peers”, adding this would “lay the foundation for [the diaspora] establishing strong future connections with Georgia”.

Addressing the goal of protecting the interests of Georgian citizens abroad as “one of the main priorities”, she said the network of diplomatic representations and consular offices abroad would “expand to ensure high accessibility of consular services and the effective implementation of consular protection”, stressing the “rights of Georgian citizens must be fully safeguarded abroad”.

The official further emphasised “a package of amendments to the Georgian Law on Compatriots Residing Abroad and Diaspora Organisations" would be introduced in the Parliament “in the near future”.

Botchorishvili added “special attention” would be given to “revitalising the diplomatic service, encouraging young diplomats, and creating an even stronger and more robust diplomatic corps”.