Georgian PM introduces newly confirmed Defence Minister
Kobakhidze thanked the outgoing Minister Juansher Burchuladze for his service, and noted their meeting discussed the development of defence capabilities and the strengthening of the Ministry's resources. Photo: Ministry of Defence
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Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s newly confirmed Prime Minister, on Friday introduced Irakli Chikovani as the country’s new Defence Minister.
In his comments to the media, Kobakhidze said it was an “honour” for him to hold his first meeting at the Ministry as the new PM.
Kobakhidze thanked the outgoing Minister Juansher Burchuladze for his service, and noted their meeting discussed the development of defence capabilities and the strengthening of the Ministry's resources.
Chikovani was confirmed as the new Defence Minister as part of PM Kobakhidze’s cabinet on Thursday, following the resignation of Burchuladze, who said he had received an offer from the new Government head to consider taking up the position of the country’s Ambassador to NATO.
The Georgian Parliament on Thursday approved Kobakhidze as the head of the Government with 84 votes in favour and 10 against, following the resignation of Irakli Garibashvili as the PM on January 29.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the newly confirmed Georgian Prime Minister, on Friday signed a decree on the appointment of ministers following the confidence vote in the Parliament on Thursday.
Georgian Defence Minister Irakli Chikovani on Friday said leaders of NATO viewed Georgia as the “closest partner” among non-member countries, as a credit for the state’s “achievements” of the past 10 years.
Georgian Parliament on Thursday approved Irakli Kobakhidze, the former Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as the Prime Minister of Georgia, following the resignation of the former PM Irakli Garibashvili.
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.
The Catholicos Patriarch of Georgia Ilia II on Friday “heartily” congratulated Irakli Kobakhidze on his appointment as the country’s Prime Minister by saying “May God grant that your work brings peace, prosperity and further success to Georgia”.
Following the ministerial appointments under Georgia’s newly approved Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday, the personnel changes have been made in the Defence and Economy ministries, the Government Administration said on Sunday.
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.
Irakli Chikovani, the newly appointed Minister of Defence of Georgia, on Wednesday met Răzvan Rotundu, the Romanian Ambassador to the country, to discuss the importance of strategic partnership between the two states and “successful bilateral” cooperation in defence.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday cited “problems in management communication” in comments on the resignation of Zurab Azarashvili, the Minister of IDPs, Labour, Health and Social Affairs.