Deputy Foreign Minister Giorgi Gomiashvili announced on May 21 that he has filed his resignation and plans to lead a new political movement, which, as he put it, will be in opposition to the ruling National Movement party, but not in opposition to President Saakashvili.
The Parliament decided on May 20 to postpone the voting on the appointment of Gomiashvili as Georgia?s Ambassador to Switzerland, after a group of parliamentarians from the ruling party refused to support his nomination, citing Gomiashvili?s ?inexperience.?
At a news conference on May 21 Gomiashvili hinted that some parliamentarians were against his appointment as Ambassador to Switzerland because of the suspicious bank accounts which some Georgian politicians have in Switzerland.
?It seems that Geneva is a very interesting place for many politicians; interesting because of those banks which are located there and because of, god knows, what kind of bank accounts,? Gomiashvili said.
Gomiashvili also said that he will become the leader of a new political party, but he did not elaborate the details of this proposal. Gomiashvili only said that it will be in opposition to the ruling party, which, as he put it, ?is not loyal to President Saakashvili.? The latter chairs the National Movement party. Gomiashvili was nominated for this ambassadorial position by President Saakashvili.
Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili, who returned from her European trip on May 21, has not yet made any comments regarding her deputy?s resignation.
The Parliament?s decision to not support Gomiashvili?s ambassadorial nomination further triggered speculations about persisting disagreements between Foreign Minister Zourabichvili and a group of leading MPs, including Parliamentary Chairperson Nino Burjanadze. Unofficial reports also claimed that some parliamentarians were opposing Gomiashvili?s nomination because he was regarded as a prot?g? of Foreign Minister Zourabichvili.
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