.Georgian defense, foreign ministers fired
TBILISI, Georgia (AP) - Georgia's leaders ousted the defense minister and foreign minister Friday in a shake-up some observers saw as reflecting dissatisfaction with the West as the country struggles to recover from its disastrous war with Russia.
The new foreign minister lived and worked in Moscow for many years. His appointment is being interpreted as an attempt by President Mikhail Saakashvili's government to improve relations with Russia.
But Saakashvili said in televised comments that the changes were necessary because Georgia "is now situated under the double weight of the financial crisis and the results of the Russian aggression." Saakashvili urged new Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili to give other jobs to the outgoing ministers, whom he called "highly qualified and patriots of Georgia."
In announcing the dismissals, Mgaloblishvili said the government needed an overhaul because of what he called the "new realities."
Interior Minister Alexander Lomaia, who commands the country's police force, said he, too, was stepping down. "I talked to the president and I am leaving my post and will take a diplomatic job," he told The Associated Press.
Mgaloblishvili, who became prime minister last month, announced the dismissals of Defense Minister David Kezerashvili and Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili, as well as of the ministers of education and culture. But further dismissals were expected.
The prime minister said the new foreign minister, the fourth this year, will be Grigol Vashadze, 50, a former deputy foreign minister who until Friday was the culture minister.
A veteran diplomat, Vashadze served in the Soviet Foreign Ministry in the 1980s.
Political analyst Soso Tsintsadze said Vashadze's appointment reflects the Georgian leadership's dissatisfaction with Europe and its level of support for Georgia after the war.
"Apparently there will be some changes, and Vashadze is the ideal person for contacts with Russia," he said.
Alexander Rondelli, director of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies in Tbilisi, said the decision to remove some of the most public faces of the war is likely intended to signal a desire to improve relations with Russia.
"I think a certain stage is finished," he said. "It's finished with NATO. Maybe now it's time to improve relations with Russia."
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the dismissals had long been expected, especially that of the defense minister.
"After a lost war, someone should be held responsible," Utiashvili said.
Kezerashvili, who had served as defense minister since November 2006, will be replaced by one of his deputies, Batu Kutelia, the prime minister said.
MyWay
Sold, down the river, in exchange for supply routs into Afghanistan. The only thing is, it's probably the Russians arming the insurgents in Pakistan.
The new foreign minister lived and worked in Moscow for many years. His appointment is being interpreted as an attempt by President Mikhail Saakashvili's government to improve relations with Russia.
But Saakashvili said in televised comments that the changes were necessary because Georgia "is now situated under the double weight of the financial crisis and the results of the Russian aggression." Saakashvili urged new Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili to give other jobs to the outgoing ministers, whom he called "highly qualified and patriots of Georgia."
In announcing the dismissals, Mgaloblishvili said the government needed an overhaul because of what he called the "new realities."
Interior Minister Alexander Lomaia, who commands the country's police force, said he, too, was stepping down. "I talked to the president and I am leaving my post and will take a diplomatic job," he told The Associated Press.
Mgaloblishvili, who became prime minister last month, announced the dismissals of Defense Minister David Kezerashvili and Foreign Minister Eka Tkeshelashvili, as well as of the ministers of education and culture. But further dismissals were expected.
The prime minister said the new foreign minister, the fourth this year, will be Grigol Vashadze, 50, a former deputy foreign minister who until Friday was the culture minister.
A veteran diplomat, Vashadze served in the Soviet Foreign Ministry in the 1980s.
Political analyst Soso Tsintsadze said Vashadze's appointment reflects the Georgian leadership's dissatisfaction with Europe and its level of support for Georgia after the war.
"Apparently there will be some changes, and Vashadze is the ideal person for contacts with Russia," he said.
Alexander Rondelli, director of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies in Tbilisi, said the decision to remove some of the most public faces of the war is likely intended to signal a desire to improve relations with Russia.
"I think a certain stage is finished," he said. "It's finished with NATO. Maybe now it's time to improve relations with Russia."
Georgian Interior Ministry spokesman Shota Utiashvili said the dismissals had long been expected, especially that of the defense minister.
"After a lost war, someone should be held responsible," Utiashvili said.
Kezerashvili, who had served as defense minister since November 2006, will be replaced by one of his deputies, Batu Kutelia, the prime minister said.
MyWay
Sold, down the river, in exchange for supply routs into Afghanistan. The only thing is, it's probably the Russians arming the insurgents in Pakistan.
posted by madtom at 6:52 PM
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