From: Justin Burke (JBurke@sorosny.org)
Date: Mon Nov 19 2001 - 09:19:51 EST
Committee rejects Georgian cabinet nominee amid charges of lobbying for US
firm
Text of report by Georgian TV on 18 November
[Presenter] Davit Mirtskhulava today failed to receive support for his
candidature as energy minister from the parliamentary committee for sectors
of the economy. At a meeting of the committee, member of parliament Levan
Pirveli presented a document attacking Mirtskhulava.
Also today, the committee recommended the confirmation of Merab Adeishvili
and Merab Chkhenkeli [as transport and construction ministers
respectively], but it remains to be seen whether or not the full parliament
will confirm them.
[Merab Makharadze, member of parliament, announcing the results of the vote]
Of the 23 members of the committee for sectors of the economy, 14 took part
in the vote concerning the confirmation of Davit Mirtskhulava as fuel and
energy minister of Georgia. Seven members supported and the other seven
opposed his nomination.
[Correspondent] The candidate for energy minister today failed to receive
support from the committee for sectors of the economy. Member of parliament
Levan Pirveli criticized Davit Mirtskhulava at the committee meeting.
Pirveli, who demanded that the committee meeting be held in camera,
presented committee members with what he described as a document of
strategic importance. The details of the document have not been released to
the media.
[Pirveli, interviewed] I can only tell you briefly about that document.
There was an attempt to blackmail the authorities, and that is how he was
nominated. I presented this information to committee members, and, as you
can see, the outcome is that the committee will not officially support
Mirtskhulava.
[Correspondent, to Pirveli] Is it about certain interests in the energy
sector? Who are you referring to?
[Pirveli] The interests of the AES corporation [US operator of the capital's
power grid and AES Mtkvari power station]. They and Mirtskhulava have
resorted to blackmail over his candidature.
[Correspondent] Davit Mirtskhulava left the meeting without commenting on
this allegation. Before that, while he was waiting for the results of the
vote, he predicted that he would face a certain opposition.
[Mirtskhulava] Naturally, if parliament votes against me, I will move to
other work.
[Correspondent, to Mirtskhulava] Which forces do you expect to oppose you?
[Mirtskhulava] It is hard to say. I have a very clear-cut circle of
opponents in the Georgian Parliament who oppose me mainly on one issue.
[Correspondent] What issue?
[Mirtskhulava] It has been mentioned a lot before - support for American
companies, lobbying for them. I am not denying that, but it simply means
lobbying for the Georgian energy sector.
[Correspondent] Levan Pirveli says that he will present his document in full
in parliament. Despite the opposition of the committee for sectors of the
economy, parliament will still debate Mirtskhulava's candidature.
Meanwhile, the energy minister-designate says that all the prerequisites are
in place to ensure that in the winter months Tbilisi will be supplied with
electricity round the clock, while the regions - depending on how they pay.
The candidate for transport and communications minister received nine votes
for and five against. Merab Adeishvili hopes that in the end he will secure
enough votes in parliament.
[Adeishvili, interviewed] It is a difficult burden to carry today. I do not
think many people will want to be ministers or be able to cope with that
burden.
[Correspondent, to Adeishvili] Do you think you will be confirmed?
[Adeishvili] I think deputies will support me.
[Correspondent] As for Merab Chkhenkeli, he received 11 votes for and three
against. The construction minister-designate is categorically opposed to
his agency's incorporation into another ministry.
[Chkhenkeli, interviewed] If there had been consultations beforehand, I do
not think that the president would have presented such proposals to
parliament.
[Correspondent] The full parliament will have the final say on all three
candidates.
Source: Georgian Television, Tbilisi, in Georgian 1615 gmt 18 Nov 01
BBC Mon FS1 FsuPol gv
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