Thousands Join Ex-Foreign Minister For Georgian Protest
Sacked Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili led Georgia's largest protest since the Rose Revolution today.
“People, who need democracy, who want a civilized European system, are here. Today, I will start a new life, together with you - for you and your children, calmly as it should be in a civilized country... This means that a very strong force will come,” Salome Zourabichvili said [at the rally].
“I wanted to meet you today to demonstrate to the world that in Georgia devils are not coming, they are leaving,” she added.
A new Foreign Minister, Gela Bezhuashvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council was announced today, with the New-Rights claiming the dismissal was "an attempt to “change the country’s western foreign policy into a Russian-oriented one”. Infact the Ukrainian, Russian and U.S ambassadors have all criticized her in recent weeks with failing to provide them with orders.
This change of personnel can be attributed to poor management skills rather than a switch to Moscow in foreign policy relations. Quite why the New-Rights feel Saakashvili is about to turn his back on his closest allies is beyond me. Expect to see a softer approach to Russian relations however, as in recent weeks tensions over Abkhazia have grown between the two sides. Tbilisi wont wish to cause too much trouble with its powerful neighbour and major economic partner.
On a side note the leader of the opposition Republican Party Davit Usupashvili has said he would be happy to see Zourabichvili join his party.
“People, who need democracy, who want a civilized European system, are here. Today, I will start a new life, together with you - for you and your children, calmly as it should be in a civilized country... This means that a very strong force will come,” Salome Zourabichvili said [at the rally].
“I wanted to meet you today to demonstrate to the world that in Georgia devils are not coming, they are leaving,” she added.
A new Foreign Minister, Gela Bezhuashvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council was announced today, with the New-Rights claiming the dismissal was "an attempt to “change the country’s western foreign policy into a Russian-oriented one”. Infact the Ukrainian, Russian and U.S ambassadors have all criticized her in recent weeks with failing to provide them with orders.
This change of personnel can be attributed to poor management skills rather than a switch to Moscow in foreign policy relations. Quite why the New-Rights feel Saakashvili is about to turn his back on his closest allies is beyond me. Expect to see a softer approach to Russian relations however, as in recent weeks tensions over Abkhazia have grown between the two sides. Tbilisi wont wish to cause too much trouble with its powerful neighbour and major economic partner.
On a side note the leader of the opposition Republican Party Davit Usupashvili has said he would be happy to see Zourabichvili join his party.
posted by MattyJ @ 2:25 pm
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