Head of Georgian Mission to the EU Natalie Sabanadze resigns

By Nika Gamtsemlidze

Monday, March 22

Sabanadze announced her decision with a post on Facebook

Natalie Sabanadze became ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Head of Georgian Mission to the EU in May of 2013

Natalie Sabanadze, the head of the Georgian mission to the European Union, has resigned. As she writes on Facebook, her resignation statement has already been approved by the Foreign Minister.

Sabanadze has represented the country in Brussels for almost eight years. “It has been a great honour and a responsibility. It has been a mission full of successes as well as challenges and at times moral dilemmas. Time has come to move on,” wrote Sabanadze on her Facebook yesterday.

She also noted that the European future of the country is the cause that is worth fighting for, “it is not merely about the EU membership but is about living in freedom and dignity. I wish to thank my team in Brussels for their work and dedication. I owe them a lot,” noted Sabanadze.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also issued a statement. “In agreement with the leadership of the ministry, the ambassador decided to resign after the Association Council, which was held on March 16 this year,” reads the Foreign Ministry statement, adding meeting was successful.

Sabanadze did not talk about any specific reasons for her resignation. Many have speculated that it might be linked to the ongoing events and crisis in the country, however, neither Sabanadze nor the Minister of Foreign Affairs commented about the reasons for her resignation.

According to Mikheil Sarjveladze, Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights and Civil Integration, he does not know what Natalie Sabanadze's resignation from the post of Head of the Georgian Mission to the EU is related to.

Sarjveladze stated the vacancy should be filled with staff that will make a cooperation with European structures even more effective.

Natalie Sabanadze became ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Head of Georgian Mission to the EU in May of 2013. Before that, she worked as the Head of Section, Easter Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia from 2011 to 2013. She was also OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities, in the Netherlands.