2016-08-01
Position of the Minister of Defense was held by Levan Izoria, whereas Ketevan Tsikhelashvili became the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality - new Ministers were presented by Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili during the briefing held at the Administration of Government of Georgia.
Prime Minister thanked ex-ministers Tinatin Khidasheli and Paata Zakareishvili for their work and expressed hope that all the successful reforms initiated by them will continue.
"I would like to present the State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality, Ms. Ketevan Tsikhelashvili. Till now Keti performed the functions of the first deputy State Minister. She was actively engaged in Geneva international talks and various peacebuilding negotiations. She is a doctoral student at the faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at Ilia State University; Keti was an academic researcher at the University of Freiburg in Switzerland; she also attended the course on European integration at University of Limerick in Ireland. She is a master of international relations and European studies at Central European University. Keti was a researcher at the Policy and Defense Unite at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; she was in Germany at the European Centre for Minority Issues in Germany; she was a program manager and senior analyst at the International Center on Conflict and Negotiations. She specializes in international relations and lectures on European studies. She is fluent in English and Russian and I am convinced that she will be a successful state Minister," - Prime Minister noted.
Giorgi Kvirikashvili also presented Levan Izoria as a Minister of Defense. According to him, Levan Izoria has a vast experience in the area of state security and peace policy. Alongside with his personal qualities, his expertise will enable him to remain active in the area of ensuring state defensibility and reinforcement of the armed forces of Georgia.
"I present Levan Izoria to the position of Minister of Defence - till now he performed the functions of deputy head of the State Security Service. He is a Doctor of Law, full professor. He graduated with honors from the Faculty of Law of Tbilisi State University. In 1999 he became Master of Law at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, in 2002 he was awarded doctoral degree at the same University. He was deputy Minister of Interior and before that, he was the Dean of the Academy of Minister of Interior. In 2007-2008 he was the dean of the Faculty of Law of Georgian University. In 2008-2009 he was a Professor of German University of Administrative Sciences Speyer. With Humboldt scholarship, he was also an invited professor at Max-Planck-Institut in Heidelberg. Levan Izoria is an author of 4 books and co-author of 5 books. He is fluent in English, Russian and German," - Prime Minister noted.
According to Giorgi Kvirikashvili, defense, armed forces and army of Georgia will be lingering priority of Georgian Government. Prime Minister wished success to the new Ministers and expressed hope that they will be honored members of the ruling team.
Prime Minister's Press Office