Officials Deny Anticipated Structural Changes in Cabinet
On February 25, officials denied that a restructuring of the government is anticipated in the near future. The Georgian media recently speculated that an expected government reshuffle would involve plans to abolish the State Ministers? positions.
?I can tell you for sure that this information is not true,? Goga Khaindrava, the State Minister in charge of conflict resolution issues, told Rustavi 2 television.
However, Vice-Speaker of the Parliament Mikheil Machavariani, who is one of the leaders of the ruling National Movement party, told Imedi television on February 25 that ?in a maximun of two months the Prime Minister [Zurab Nogaideli] intends to unveil a plan over a restructuring of the government.?
?This is what he [the Prime Minister] told us during a meeting with the political council [a governing body of the National Movement] of the party,? Machavariani added, however he did not specify other details.
Currently there are four State Ministers: Kakha Bendukidze in charge of economic reforms, Zinaida Bestaeva in charge of civil integration issues, Giorgi Baramidze in charge of Georgia?s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures and Goga Khaindrava, who is the State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues.
