Davit Dondua, deputy state minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, was appointed on November 17 as new first deputy foreign minister, replacing Davit Zalkaliani, who stepped down after resignation of Maia Panjikidze from foreign minister’s post.

• Beruchashvili Appointed as New Foreign Minister

Dondua has also succeeded Zalkaliani as Georgia’s chief negotiator in the Geneva talks, which were launched after the August, 2008 war.   

Dondua joined the Foreign Ministry in 1993 and served as Georgia’s ambassador to NATO in 2000-2005.
 
He was chief of staff of parliament speaker in 2008-2012, when the post of speaker was held by Davit Bakradze. In 2012 he was appointed as first deputy state minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Two other new deputies of foreign minister are Gigi Gigiadze, who has been in the diplomatic service since 2000 and most recently served in the Georgian embassy in Berlin, and Khatuna Totladze, who was head of the international law department at the foreign ministry since 2012.

Davit Jalagania, who has been the deputy foreign minister since late 2008, and Vladimer Gurgenidze, who was appointed as deputy foreign minister in September, have retained the posts.