Georgia’s Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has resigned to become Ambassador to the United States, civil.ge reports.
Ilia Darchiashvili, the Head of Government Administration and former Ambassador to Poland, is set to replace Zalkaliani as the top diplomat.
Announcing the decision this morning, PM Irakli Garibashvili said the appointment of FM Zalkaliani, who garners 30-years long experience in diplomatic service, as the Ambassador to the U.S. highlights the importance Georgia attaches to relations with Washington.
Hailing the U.S. as Georgia’s most important strategic partner, PM Garibashvili said “our task, our desire is to take the relations between the two countries to [higher] level and I believe Dato [David Zalkaliani] will be able to do it successfully.”
On his part, Zalkaliani stated that “Representing Georgia in our main strategic partner country, the United States, is a huge responsibility.”
He pledged to “work with even greater responsibility” to bring Georgia-U.S. relations to a higher level.
On his part, newly appointed Foreign Minister Darchiashvili said the Ministry and the Georgian diplomats will “continue to defend the best interests of the country abroad with a usual dedication.”