Grigol Mgaloblishvili
Encyclopedia
Grigol Mgaloblishvili is a Georgia
n politician and diplomat
who has been Georgia's Permanent Representative to NATO since June 26, 2009. He briefly served as the Prime Minister of Georgia
from November 1, 2008 to February 6, 2009.
, the capital of the then-Soviet Georgia, to the family of intelligentsia
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav103008a.shtml. He graduated from Tbilisi State University
, in 1995 with BA and MA degrees in Oriental Studies
. Between 1992 and 1993, Mgaloblishvili spent a year at Istanbul University
, obtaining a Certificate in Turkish Language. Mgaloblishvili's political career has been actively linked to the Republic of Turkey as he served as a Georgian diplomatic representative to the country from 1995 to 2002 on various positions, including as an interpreter, an attache
, a First Secretary
and a political counselor. Mgaloblishvili returned to Georgia, in 2003, to the position of the Deputy Director of the Department of USA, Canada and Latin American Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
. Prior to this, between 2002 and 2003, Mgaloblishvili was enrolled on the UK postgraduate course in Diplomatic Studies at Oxford University. In 2004, Mgaloblishvili was promoted within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
to lead the Department of European Integration. In 2005 Grigol Mgaloblishvili was granted diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and on October 20, 2006, that of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.. He served as the Georgian Ambassador to Turkey
until 27 October 2008 when President Mikheil Saakashvili
proposed him for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia
to the Parliament of Georgia
. He speaks English, Turkish, Russian and German.
as the Minister of Justice, Koba Subeliani
as the Minister for Environment Protection and Grigol Vashadze
was created the Minister of Culture and Cultural Heritage Preservation. Grigol Mgaloblishvili held his first public voyage on November 3, 2008, when he visited the Kakheti Region
and conversed with the local agriculturers. The first sitting of Mgaloblishvili's new Cabinet took place on November 5, 2008. Further reshuffle in the cabinet was made on December 8, 2008, when the foreign, defense, and education ministers were replaced.
In late December 2008, Russian media widely picked up the report by Georgia's tabloid Alia claiming that an incident occurred between Mgaloblishvili and Saakashvili in which the latter allegedly punched Mgaloblishvili and threw a telephone into him. The story did not explain what provoked the president. Shortly afterwards, Mgaloblishvili left for Germany
for medical examination. Returning to Georgia, responded to "hype and rumors" that was stirred by the press and described the Russian media reports as "ridiculous". President Saakashvili also responded to the rumors, saying that after Mgaloblishvili's return "Russian will calm down and focus more on global issues."
On 30 January 2009, during a press conference, Mgaloblishvili announced his resignation citing health problems and saying that he had suggested the President to consider nominating Nika Gilauri, the finance minister and first vice premier, for the prime minister's position.
as the country's Permanent Representative to NATO, succeeding on this post Revaz Beshidze.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
n politician and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
who has been Georgia's Permanent Representative to NATO since June 26, 2009. He briefly served as the Prime Minister of Georgia
Prime Minister of Georgia
The Prime Minister of Georgia is the most senior minister within the Cabinet of Georgia, appointed by the President of Georgia. The official title of the Head of the Government of Georgia has varied throughout history, however, the duties and functions of the leader have changed only marginally....
from November 1, 2008 to February 6, 2009.
Early life and education
Grigol Mgaloblishvili was born in TbilisiTbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, the capital of the then-Soviet Georgia, to the family of intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insightb/articles/eav103008a.shtml. He graduated from Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
, in 1995 with BA and MA degrees in Oriental Studies
Oriental studies
Oriental studies is the academic field of study that embraces Near Eastern and Far Eastern societies and cultures, languages, peoples, history and archaeology; in recent years the subject has often been turned into the newer terms of Asian studies and Middle Eastern studies...
. Between 1992 and 1993, Mgaloblishvili spent a year at Istanbul University
Istanbul University
Istanbul University is a Turkish university located in Istanbul. The main campus is adjacent to Beyazıt Square.- Synopsis :A madrasa, a religious school, was established sometime in the 15th century after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. An institution of higher education named the...
, obtaining a Certificate in Turkish Language. Mgaloblishvili's political career has been actively linked to the Republic of Turkey as he served as a Georgian diplomatic representative to the country from 1995 to 2002 on various positions, including as an interpreter, an attache
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
, a First Secretary
Diplomatic rank
Diplomatic rank is the system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. Over time it has been formalized on an international basis.-Ranks:...
and a political counselor. Mgaloblishvili returned to Georgia, in 2003, to the position of the Deputy Director of the Department of USA, Canada and Latin American Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, is one of seventeen ministries of the Cabinet of Georgia, responsible for the country's network of relationships with foreign nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located on Chitadze Street in Tbilisi, Georgia...
. Prior to this, between 2002 and 2003, Mgaloblishvili was enrolled on the UK postgraduate course in Diplomatic Studies at Oxford University. In 2004, Mgaloblishvili was promoted within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, is one of seventeen ministries of the Cabinet of Georgia, responsible for the country's network of relationships with foreign nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located on Chitadze Street in Tbilisi, Georgia...
to lead the Department of European Integration. In 2005 Grigol Mgaloblishvili was granted diplomatic rank of Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and on October 20, 2006, that of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.. He served as the Georgian Ambassador to Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
until 27 October 2008 when President Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
proposed him for the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia
Prime Minister of Georgia
The Prime Minister of Georgia is the most senior minister within the Cabinet of Georgia, appointed by the President of Georgia. The official title of the Head of the Government of Georgia has varied throughout history, however, the duties and functions of the leader have changed only marginally....
to the Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
. He speaks English, Turkish, Russian and German.
Prime minister
Mgaloblishvili was approved as the Prime Minister on November 1, 2008. Mgaloblishvili implemented a minor reshuffle of the Cabinet, appointing Zurab AdeishviliZurab Adeishvili
Zurab Adeishvili is a Georgian lawyer and politician, currently the Minister of Justice of Georgia since November 2008.-Early life:Adeishvili was born in the village of Mtisdziri in Qvareli district, then-Soviet Georgia...
as the Minister of Justice, Koba Subeliani
Koba Subeliani
Koba Subeliani is a Georgian politician who serves as the Minister for Internally Displaced Persons from the Occuppied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia.-Early years:...
as the Minister for Environment Protection and Grigol Vashadze
Grigol Vashadze
Grigol Vashadze is a Georgian politician, diplomat and a member of the Cabinet of Georgia in the capacity of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia. From 2 November 2008 until 10 December of the same year Vashadze briefly served as the Minister for Culture, Heritage Preservation and Sport...
was created the Minister of Culture and Cultural Heritage Preservation. Grigol Mgaloblishvili held his first public voyage on November 3, 2008, when he visited the Kakheti Region
Kakheti
Kakheti is a historical province in Eastern Georgia inhabited by Kakhetians who speak a local dialect of Georgian. It is bordered by the small mountainous province of Tusheti and the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, Russian Federation to the Northeast, Azerbaijan to the Southeast, and...
and conversed with the local agriculturers. The first sitting of Mgaloblishvili's new Cabinet took place on November 5, 2008. Further reshuffle in the cabinet was made on December 8, 2008, when the foreign, defense, and education ministers were replaced.
In late December 2008, Russian media widely picked up the report by Georgia's tabloid Alia claiming that an incident occurred between Mgaloblishvili and Saakashvili in which the latter allegedly punched Mgaloblishvili and threw a telephone into him. The story did not explain what provoked the president. Shortly afterwards, Mgaloblishvili left for Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
for medical examination. Returning to Georgia, responded to "hype and rumors" that was stirred by the press and described the Russian media reports as "ridiculous". President Saakashvili also responded to the rumors, saying that after Mgaloblishvili's return "Russian will calm down and focus more on global issues."
On 30 January 2009, during a press conference, Mgaloblishvili announced his resignation citing health problems and saying that he had suggested the President to consider nominating Nika Gilauri, the finance minister and first vice premier, for the prime minister's position.
Ambassador to NATO
On 26 June 2009, Mgaloblishvili was appoved by the Parliament of GeorgiaParliament of Georgia
Parliament of Georgia is the supreme legislature of Georgia. It is unicameral and has 150 members, known as deputies, from which 75 members are proportional representatives and 75 are elected through single-member district plurality system, representing their constituencies...
as the country's Permanent Representative to NATO, succeeding on this post Revaz Beshidze.