Parliamentarians from the ruling National Movement party slammed the Foreign Ministry for the latter?s reaction to criticism voiced by leading MPs over the Foreign Ministry?s delay in submitting a Framework Convention on National Minorities to the Parliament.
In a response to criticism voiced by MP Davit Kirkitadze from the National Movement, who described Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili as ?negligent,? the Foreign Ministry issued a statement on October 14 saying that it condemns ?the criticism of a person who is a top official. The statement [by MP Kirkitadze] is unacceptable, especially when it regards the Foreign Minister [Salome Zourabichvili], while the latter is on an official visit to a foreign country [UK].?
?I am astonished with the Georgian Foreign Ministry making a statement about the Georgian Parliament. I think it is not a normal action,? MP Kote Gabashvili, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Foreign Affairs, said on October 17.
Vice-Speaker Mikheil Machavariani said that ?we consider this action by the Foreign Ministry an incorrect step.?
?Every MP has the right to make a critical statement, moreover if this criticism is well-founded,? MP Elene Tevdoradze, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights, said on October 17.
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