President and Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili and Giorgi Kvirikashvili have agreed on the principles of joint operation of two similar structures that obey each of them – the National Security Council and the State Security and Crisis Directorate.
During the government led by the previous Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, who created the second of them, the problem was one of the reasons for the permanent conflict between the state's main figures.
"The National Security Council is the only formal institution attended by the President, the head of the executive branch of power, and the chairman of the Parliament in order to solve critical issues. However, there are crises which don't always require fixing the political position by senior political figures. In this case, the government should have a mechanism for fighting crises,'' Sputnik-Georgia cites Margvelashvili's statement on the TV channel Maestro.
Kvirikashvili is at one with him. "The government is responsible for any crisis in the country. The executive branch headed by the Prime Minister should manage it. The government needs an effective mechanism for the operational management of crisis situations, which is represented by the National Security Council and the Crisis Directorate. Its functions and the functions of the National Security Council are well divided,'' his statement posted on the official government Facebook page informs.
At the same time, the President of Georgia and the Prime Minister noted the need for cooperation if a crisis turns into an emergency situation and the joint efforts of all branches of government will be necessary.
This is not the first step by the new Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikavshili to calm the conflict situation between the first persons of the state. On February 3rd he was in the parliament during the President's speech in contrast to his predecessor, who persistently avoided it.
The head of the Center for Security Studies and International Relations, Nika Chitadze, noted in a conversation with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza that the normalization of relations between the President and the government became possible thanks to the "personality factor and Georgian Prime Minister Kvirikashvili". "He has a more constructive attitude both to President Margvelashvili, and to the institution of the Presidency. And we know that Kvirikashvili participated in the National Security Council himself. In addition, two days ago, together with the government, he attended the Parliament during the President's speech. Certainly, this should be welcomed. Kvirikashvili's constructive approach and his respect for the institution of the Presidency contributes to the achievement of compromise and coordination between the government of Georgia and the Office of the President of Georgia. Kvirikashvili's participation in the work of the national security Council and the presence of the Prime Minister during the Georgian President's speech can also be welcomed,'' he said.
Political scientist Giorgi Nodia also linked this change with the personality of Giorgi Kvirikashvili. "He has a more civilized attitude and has decided to stop this absurd struggle between Prime Minister and the President. I don't know how the situation will develop further, but this novelty is undoubtedly positive," the expert noted.
