New Georgian premier favors continuation of pragmatic policy towards Russia

TBILISI, December 30. /TASS/. Georgia’s parliament at a plenary session in Kutaisi on Tuesday endorsed Georgy Kvirikashvili as the country’s prime minister and also approved the composition of the government proposed by him. A total of 86 of 114 lawmakers present at the meeting voted for a vote of confidence to Kvirikashvili and the government, 28 parliamentarians voted against. Speaking at the plenary session of parliament on Tuesday, Kvirikashvili spoke out in favor of "the continuation of Georgia’s pragmatic policy towards Russia." To ensure Georgia’s peaceful and stable development, it is very important for us to continue pragmatic peace-oriented policy with Russia," he said. According to him, "over the past three years the Georgian authorities have done a lot in this direction, and this process will continue, naturally, on the basis of Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity." Kvirikashvili noted that "Georgia would do its utmost to use to the full extent the potential of the Geneva talks and discussions that have been the main format for discussing the political issues of the Georgian-Russian relations." According to him, Georgia also intends to actively maintain dialogue in the Abashidze-Karasin format. Kvirikashvili added that this dialogue "is a very important format, our international partners speak highly of Georgia’s efforts and work in this format, and this dialogue will be continued." On December 23, Irakli Garibashvili who served as Georgia’s Prime Minister since November 20, 2013, announced his resignation. On December 25, the parliamentary majority consisting of members of the Georgian Dream ruling coalition decided to nominate Georgia’s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Kvirikashvili for the position of the prime minister. On the same day President Giorgi Margvelashvili supported his candidacy and sent to parliament for approval. On December 26, Kvirikashvili said that "at this stage (he) decided to submit to parliament for endorsement the same composition of the government nominating the candidacy of Mikheil Janelidze who served as deputy foreign minister since September 2015 for the position of the Foreign Minister." "After the parliament supported the vote of confidence to the government I will have an opportunity as the prime minister to get acquainted in detail with the work of every minister, which will make it possible for me to take rational decisions. I do not rule out that there will be some changes in the government in the future," he said. Read more