Georgian PM appoints new Foreign Minister

PanARMENIAN.Net - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili appointed Tuesday, Nov 11, Tamar Beruchashvili as the country's new Foreign Minister, RFE/RL reported.

Beruchashvili replaces Maia Panjikidze, who stepped down last week after Defense Minister Irakli Alasania was fired.

Beruchashvili, 53, a career diplomat with more than two decades of experience of working on European affairs, has served as Deputy Foreign Minister since April, 2013. She was the State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration for nine months in 2004 and served as deputy state minister in 2004-2010.

Panjikidze announced on Nov 5 that she and her four deputies, including Beruchashvili, were resigning. However, Beruchashvili said later that she had changed her decision to resign after talks with Garibashvili.

Panjikidze's resignation following Alasania’s dismissal has signaled a crisis within the ruling Georgian Dream coalition.