Georgian PM appoints new Foreign MinisterNovember 11, 2014 - 21:31 AMT 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. Photo: agenda.ge Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |