New Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has confirmed that Davit Zalkaliani is being considered for the post of deputy foreign minister.
Zalkaliani, who has also confirmed having consultations on his possible appointment, was the member of the Free Democrats (FD) party and served as first deputy foreign minister from late October 2012; he resigned in November, 2014 when FD quit the Georgian Dream ruling coalition. Zalkaliani, who was the member of FD’s governing body, quit the FD party in October, 2015, remaining on good terms with party leadership, who have reacted positively on the news of Zalkaliani’s possible reappointment as deputy foreign minister.
“Davit Zalkaliani is an experienced, professional diplomat, and a valuable cadre for the Foreign Ministry. I have been working with him on important issues, including on negotiating Association Agreement [with the EU],” Janelidze, who was deputy economy minister for four years till September 2015, told journalists. “We have been holding consultations and consider him as a candidate [for deputy foreign minister’s position] and it will become public if decision [on his appointment] is made.”
First Deputy Foreign Minister’s post is vacant after Mikheil Janelidze was promoted on the post of the Foreign Minister by new PM Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
Four other deputy foreign ministers – Davit Dondua, Davit Jalagania, Gigi Gigiadze and Khatuna Totladze, have retained their posts.
