2024-03-11
Over the past week, we had consultations concerning candidates for the position of Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Health, Labor and Social Affairs of Georgia, also individual consultations with both our political team's members and representatives of the medical community, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated at today's briefing at the Administration of the Government.
According to the Head of Government, whether or not a new minister should be a representative of the medical community was one of the key issues of said consultations.
"There was a 50/50 difference of opinion on this matter among both our political team and the medical community. One part believed that a new minister absolutely should be a representative of the medical community, while the other half expressed exactly the opposite. Based on these consultations, I arrived at the conclusion that representatives of the medical community and other candidates alike can be considered as candidates for the ministerial office. Ultimately, I gave priority to a member of our political team who enjoys my special trust grounded in his professionalism and conscientiousness. Allow me to inform you that Mister Mikheil Sarjveladze has been appointed as Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Health, Labor and Social Affairs of Georgia. He needs no special introduction. Prior to 2012, Mister Sarjveladze pursued successful legal practice. After 2012, he held various positions in public service. Let me remind you that Mister Sarjveladze has lead the National Bureau of Enforcement, later serving as First Deputy Justice Minister. Since 2012, he was an MP and Chairman of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament of Georgia. I would like to wish success to Mister Sarjveladze, who will from now on lead several crucially important directions. Let me remind you that this is about healthcare, and besides healthcare it is also about the population's social security, protection of the rights of refuges, employment, and work-related matters. There are myriad challenges in every direction, but I am confident that Mikheil Sarjveladze, with his professionalism and exceptional personal qualities, will be the best Minister bringing enormous success to this area," the Prime Minister said.
Irakli Kobakhidze also spoke about changes in the composition of the Government Administration.
"Mister Levan Zhorzholiani has been appointed as Head of the Government Administration. Until now, he has been a Member of the Tbilisi Municipal Assembly and Chairman of the Legal Commission. Mister Nikoloz Tkemaladze has been appointed as Head of the Government Administration's Regional Liaison Department. Mister Giorgi Kajaia will serve as the Prime Minister's Special Representative for the Relations with Russia, while Mister Zurab Abashidze will hold the Office of Advisor to the Prime Minister," the Prime Minister stated.
Press Service of the Government Administration