Zourabichvili: MFA Should not Serve Interests of Political Parties

Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili said on May 26 that the Georgian Foreign Ministry staff ?remains united team? despite ?pressure? and ?attacks? against the Ministry, apparently referring to the criticism voiced by some of the parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party. Salome Zourabichvili also adding that the MFA should ?serve the country and not the interests of separate political parties.?

Zourabichvili was speaking at the reception organized by the Foreign Ministry for the foreign diplomats accredited in Georgia to mark the Independence Day.

?There were many attacks on Foreign Ministry. My Deputy [Foreign Minister Giorgi Gomiashvili, who has resigned] became a victim of this. He is not now with us and I am very sorry for this,? Zourabichvili said.

Gomiashvili announced about resignation on May 21 after the parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party refused to support his nomination as Georgia?s Ambassador to Switzerland.

After the resignation Gomiashvili alleged that recent ?attacks? by some of the parliamentarians against the Foreign Minister were triggered by the fact that the Foreign Ministry ?is the only? state structure which ?is staffed by professionals? and ?not on the principal based on party-membership? hinting that the ruling National Movement party has no levers to influence the Foreign Ministry.

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