Georgian parliament approves new FM, CEC chairman

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, December 01, 2003

Georgian parliament approves new FM, CEC chairman

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

The Georgian parliament approved the appointments of Tedo Dzhaparidze as foreign minister and Zurab Chiaberashvili chairman of the Central Elections Commission (CEC) at an extraordinary meeting on Sunday, Russian news agencies reported.

Speaking at the meeting, Dzhaparidze voiced his support for establishing friendly relations with Russia.

"I regard as one of the most important tasks at the post of foreign minister, first and foremost, normalization of relations with Russia and then their elevation to a new qualitative level aswell as establishment of truly good-neighborly and friendly relations with the Russian Federation," he told the lawmakers.

He also pledged to deepen strategic partnership with the UnitedStates.

Dzhaparidze, 57-year-old former Secretary of the Georgian National Security Council, took over the post from Irakly Menagarishvili, who resigned two days ago along with several ministers under the deposed President Eduard Shevardnadze regime.

Chiaberashvili, 31, stressed the necessity of absolute transparency in upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

The main thing is "to observe the law during the elections," hesaid.

Chiaberashvili is the head of a non-government organization, which uncovered vote rigging in the Nov. 2 parliamentary electionsthat prompted the resignation of President Shevardnadze.

Chiaberashvili's appointment came two days after chairwoman of the CEC Nana Devdariani and all other members of the commission announced their resignations.

Georgia's interim parliament has confirmed several important administration appointments since the Supreme Court canceled the results of the parliament vote on Nov. 2 Tuesday. The lawmakers have decided to hold earlier presidential elections on Jan. 4, butfailed to set the date for the new parliamentary poll.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Georgian parliament fails again to set date for new election

Georgia's elections commission members resign amid political crisis

Shevardnadze calls for a peaceful Georgia

US needs to be fair with China: News analysis ( 5 Messages)

Mainland's serious warnings to Chen Shui-bian ( 10 Messages)

What's behind the resignation of Georgian president? ( 3 Messages)

Party meeting mulls China's economic work in 2004 ( 3 Messages)

US urged not to send wrong signal to Taiwan separatists ( 8 Messages)