12 Jul 2017 11:46

Georgian Foreign Minister Janelidze appointed deputy PM

TBILISI. July 12 (Interfax) - Georgian Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has been appointed deputy prime minister, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said at a government meeting on Wednesday.

"I think that, by making this appointment, we underscore Georgia's foreign political priorities. Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze has made a great contribution to the visa liberalization process [with the European Union] and foreign policy implementation," Kvirikashvili said.

The office of a Georgian deputy prime minister has been vacant after former Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze stepped down to run in Tbilisi mayoral elections. There are three deputy prime ministerial positions in Georgia.