17:00, 4 January 2013

Georgia recalls ambassadors from five countries

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has withdrawn five ambassadors, Maia Pandzhikidze, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, said at a press conference.

According to Ms Pandzhikidze, the Georgian government is looking for new staff able to carry out the country's new foreign policy. The five recalled ambassadors headed embassies in Austria, Hungary, Latvia, United States and China; their term of office was near expiry. The candidates to replace them are already known but not disclosed yet.

The MFA has prepared a list of nine other ambassadors, who may be replaced. The list was sent for signature to the Secretary of the National Security Council, the "Trend" reports.

It is planned to replace 18 ambassadors, including the heads of Georgia's mission at the Council of Europe and the European Union, the "Georgia-Online" reports with reference to the Georgian Public Broadcaster.