Zurab Zhvania Becomes State Minister

Parliament approved with 140 votes to 0 today Zurab Zhvania?s candidature on the State Minister?s post.

Zhvania said, while addressing the Parliament after appointment that he has to deal with the difficult heritage of the previous government.

?Budget is on the brink of collapse, we have grave situation in the pension fund, energy sphere; we have difficulties in the regions, bread price increases. I and all others who will take posts in the interim government should deal with all these problems,? Zurab Zhvania said.

He also pledged that the authorities would guarantee security of the supporters of the previous government and ex-President Shevardnadze.

?We will ensure security, rule of law and order. And no one should even try to undermine the stability in the country, which some people want to make. I will not say who these people are now,? Zhvania added.

?We will do our best to secure free and fair elections as well. This is a historic moment for Georgia. Now we have a real chance to knock at the doors of the Euro-Atlantic structures,? Zhvania added.

Zurab Zhvania is the chairman of the United Democrats party and was one of the leaders of the protest rallies, which led Shevardnadze out of office.

Zurab Zhvania was the Parliamentary Chairman in 1995-2001 and one of the leaders of Eduard Shevardnadze?s Citizens? Union of Georgia party before 2000, when he finally broke up with Shevardnadze and formed the opposition party United Democrats.

He resigned from the Parliamentary Chairmanship in 2001 as a protest to Shevardnadze?s government.

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