Avlabari Presidential Residence to be turned into a Palace for State Ceremonies.
By Inga Kakulia
Wednesday, April 10
Avlabari Presidential Residence to be turned into a Palace for State Ceremonies. According to the President’s Press Speaker, Khatia Moistsrapishvili, the decision was made together with the Parliament, The Government and the President herself.
The Special Commission in the Parliament is working on the possible concept for the administrative part of the Palace. The Decision has not yet been settled.
The member of the Parliament, Mariam Jashi who is also The Head of the Special Parliament Commission on this topic, announced that the recommendations on the possible use of the administrative part of the palace will be presented to the Government in the near future. She denied that the use of the Palace will only be limited to State Ceremonies.
“We are ready for the presentation. In the near future, we will hold a detailed discussion about all the possible recommendations from our part. We are leaning towards The Georgian National Culture Palace. We are returning to the original idea of the Head Architect of the Palace, Giga Batiashvili.”
According to the Chairman of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze. The main goal is to return the palace to the public. “Our main objective is to do what we promised. As you know the palace was originally built by using people’s money and we want to give it back to them. Being the place for State Ceremonies will only be one part of the building’s new purpose.”
Sergi Kapanadze, Vice-Speaker of Georgian Parliament from “European Georgia” party Also made a comment on this topic when speaking to the news agency IPN. “I think that the Avlabari palace is a presidential palace. So, Ms. Zurabishvili should have been there. It's not too late for her to change her mind. This is not a one person’s palace, it's a presidential institution's infrastructure and if there is a ceremonial center there, I do not see any problem with it. I just have one question: the logic of Ivanishvili and his team was that too much money was spent on keeping Avlabari palace. Now we have to keep two palaces.”
The Palace will also host high profile guests according to the statement of the head of the Presidential Administration, Lasha Zhvania. Zhvania also attended the discussion about the possible use of the administrative part of the Palace. The decision will be announced to the Public in the near future.
