TBILISI, DFWatch — Georgia’s new government on Monday started working.
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili Monday arrived at the government building in Tbilisi for the government’s first normal work day.
The government session started 15:00. Ivanishvili held separate meetings with Davit Saganelidze, parliamentary majority leader; Maia Panjikidze, Foreign Affairs Minister, Davit Kirvalidze, Agriculture Minister and Irakli Alasania, Defense Minister.
Richard Norland, US Ambassador to Georgia came to the government building and held a meeting with the prime minister. He delivered a letter from US president Barack Obama, who congratulated Ivanishvili with his victory in the parliamentary election.
After meeting with the prime minister, Maia Panjikidze said the main topic of their meeting was Ivanishvili’s first trip abroad, but she offered no specific information.
At first, when parliament election results became known Bidzina Ivanishvili said he would visit US first, but later he changed mind and said he will visit Brussels, because of the presidential election in the US.
The foreign ministry is in the process of selecting new deputies and there may be changes in Georgia’s diplomatic corps abroad.
A few days ago it became known that Kakha Lomaia, Georgia’s ambassador to the UN, resigned. Panjikidze denied this today and said he will not leave his post.
Defense Minister Irakli Alasania informed the prime minister about the current situation at his ministry noting that it was the first working meeting with Ivanishvili.
“I informed him about the current situation, including in financial regards and the army’s readiness,” he explained.
The agriculture minister told journalists that they spoke about setting up one billion lari fund for agriculture development.
This has been one of the major promises during the election campaign of the Georgian Dream coalition.
“The goal of this fund will be attracting investments – to bring in foreign capital, but there also will be a budget for doing business.”
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