Irakli Kobakhidze, Chairman of the Georgian Dream, says it is obvious that President Salome Zurabishvili has backed down because she realizes that the appointment and dismissal of ambassadors is not really her competence.
According to Kobakhidze, that is why the president’s administration has been spreading false information that she has appointed 12 ambassadors nominated by the government in the last year and has refused none of them.
Kobakhidze noted that in June-July of last year and this year, the President did not sign the appointment of 5 ambassadors or the recall of one ambassador, despite the recommendation of the Government.
“We are talking about facts, and the facts are as follows – in June-July last year, the President was sent three submissions from the Government regarding the appointment of ambassadors, and to date no response has been received from her. Almost a year has passed, therefore, it means that the President refused to appoint them. Incorrect information was spread by the Presidential Administration. In addition, this year, about 2-3 weeks ago, the Government sent an application regarding the appointment of two ambassadors and the recall of one ambassador. In this case, she directly refused in writing. This is documented, there is an official correspondence between the President and the Government, therefore it is unclear why the Presidential Administration spread incorrect information. It is obvious that the President has misunderstood her competence in the field of appointing ambassadors. The implementation of foreign policy is the sole competence of the Government. When the President interferes in the foreign policy implementation with her so-called arguments, this additionally means that she violated the Constitution,” said Kobakhidze.
For information, according to the Administration of the President of Georgia, during the last year, the President has approved all the candidacies nominated by the Government for appointment in diplomatic missions and international organizations.
