Ambassadorial underway in Tbilisi
By Gvantsa Gabekhadze
Tuesday, August 5
Georgia’s annual ambassadorial kicked-off in Tbilisi on August 4. From August 4-7, heads of the diplomatic services of Georgia in foreign countries gather in Tbilisi and deliver speeches about their activities abroad. All high-ranking Georgian officials attend the event. Currently, Georgia has 63 embassies and six missions, as well as six general and three independent consulates in various countries.
Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, President Giorgi Margvelashvili, Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze and other ministers made speeches at the opening ceremony of the event at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel on August 4.
The Prime Minister and the President have dedicated a significant portion of their speeches to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both of the leaders stressed that Armenia and Azerbaijan will reach an agreement and peace will be restored in the region.
“We are watching the current developments closely in these countries. I am confident that Armenia and Azerbaijan will reach an agreement and peace will be restored in the region; both are equally important countries for us,” Gharibashvili said.
With regard to domestic issues, Gharibashvili stressed that the restoration of justice is taking place in Georgia. The PM also touched upon the current Georgian constitution and stated that there are many shortcomings in it that create obstacles for the balance between the Prime Minister, President and parliament.
“Work is underway in this regard, and I think we will have a final version of the constitution by the end of this year,” Gharibashvili informed.
Apart from the Azerbaijan-Armenian conflict, President Margevlashvili spoke about the upcoming NATO Summit in Wales in September. The president stated that Georgia has done much to move the country closer to NATO and the steps taken by Georgia should be appropriately recognized at the summit. The president said that all the diplomats and responsible bodies must arrive at the NATO summit fully prepared.
The Russian issue was touched on by Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze, who stated that Russia continues its illegal actions in Georgia’s occupied regions.
Minister of Justice Thea Tsulukiani commented on Saakashvili’s case, stating that Saakashvili is an ordinary convict and all the procedures will be used against him that are used against ordinary convicts.
Georgia’s representative to NATO Levan Dolidze stated that all the issues would be discussed during the ambassadorial that are essential for achieving success at the Wales Summit.
