Date of birth: 01 July 1972 Nationality: Georgian Scientific degrees: Ph.D. (Physics, Georgian Academy of Sciences); Master (Public Administration, US National Academy of Public Administration) Position: Chairman of Parliament 2008 - 2012 Civil Rank: First Class State Counselor.
Education
- 1995-1996 - Georgian-American Institute of Public Administation (graduated with honors);
- 1994-1998 - Doctorate study, Georgian Technical University, Department of Physics (graduated with honors);
- 1989-1994 - Georgian Technical University, Department of Engineering Physics (graduated with honors);
- 1978-1989 - Secondary School N 1 (graduated with honors);
Special Training
- 2007 - Special Training in Democratic Parliamentary Management, Japanese Institute of Political Sciences, Tokyo, Japan;
- 2003 - Special Course on National Security Studies, Galilee College, Tivon, Israel;
- 2001 - Senior Course 98, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy;
- 2000 - Senior Course on Conflict Management and International Law, National Defense College, Stockholm, Sweden;
- 1999 - FBI/DOD Special Training Course on Fighting the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction, International
- 1999 - Integrated PfP/OSCE Course, NATO Defense College, Rome, Italy;
- 1998 - Defense and Security Studies Course "Leaders for 21st Century", G. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
- 1998 - OPCW Basic Course for Personnel Involved in the National Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention
- 1998 - Training course of Diplomats, Swiss International Relations University Seminars (SIRIUS), Geneva, Switzerlland;
Positions & Asignments
2008 - Chairman of Parliament;2008-2008 - Special Envoy of the President of Georgia for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Issues;
2008-2008 - Minister for Foreign Affairs;
2007-2008 - State Minister for Conflict Resolution Issues;
2004-2007 - Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Committee on European Integration;
2004-2004 - Director, Department for Political Security, National Security Council of Georgia;
2003-2004 - Director, Department for International Security and Conflict Management, National Security Council of Georgia;
2002-2003 - Head, Service for Security Issues, National Security Council of Georgia;
2000-2002 - Deputy Director of Politico-Military Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia;
1998-2000 - Head of Disarmament and Arms Control Division of Politico-Military Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia;
1996-1998 - Deputy Head of Disarmament and Arms Control Division of Politico-Military Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia;
1990-1995 - Research assistant, Laboratory for Radiochemical Research, Georgian Technical University;
2005-2008 - Member of the State Commission for European Integration;
2005-2008 - Member of the State Commission for Euro-Atlantic Integration;
2004-2007 - Co-Chairman of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Co-operation Committee;
2004-2007 - Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia to the European Parliament;
1999-2001 - Member of the Expert’s Group of the Standing Interagency Commission of National Security Council for Military-Technical Issues;
1997-2001 - Member of the Governing Board of the Georgian-American Institute of Public Administration.
1997-2002 - Individual member of the Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration (NISPA);
1996-1998 - Founding member of the Network of European Public Administration Students (NEPAS).
Principal International Experience
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Vice President and Member of the International Board of the Community of Democracies Parliamentary Forum, 2008;
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Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 2008;
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Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2008;
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Co-Chairman of the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Co-operation Committee, 2004-2007;
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Chairman of the Standing Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia to the European Parliament, 2004-2007;
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Member of the Standing Delegation of the Parliament of Georgia to the Council of Europe, 2007;
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Member of the Georgian State Delegation, negotiations concerning the implementation of Georgian-Russian Joint Statement (Istanbul, November 17, 1999) and withdrawal of Russian military forces from Georgia, 2000-2003;
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Member of the Georgian State Delegation, negotiations on Framework Agreement between Georgia and the Russian Federation, 2002-2003;
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Member of the Georgian Experts Group, negotiations concerning the implementation of Georgian-Russian Joint Statement (Istanbul, November 17, 1999) and withdrawal of Russian military forces from Georgia, 1999-2003;
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Member of Georgian State Delegation, politico-military consultations with the USA, 1999 -2000;
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Member of Georgian Delegation, consultations with High Level Task Force on Conventional Arms Control (19+1 format), NATO, 1999-2000;
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Member of Georgian Delegation, participant and keynote speaker in a number of international activities (workshops, seminars, conferences, consultations) in the politico-military field, organized by the NATO, EAPC, OSCE, OPCW, IAEA, UN and individual countries.
Special Awards
March, 2009 - GEORGE C. MARSHALL EUROPEAN CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES (GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN, GERMANY): "Featured Graduate of the Month"July, 2005 - SPECIAL AWARD OF THE GRADUATE INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (GENEVA, SWITZERLAND) "Swiss Leadership Award in International Relations”
February, 2000 - DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA: "Special Gratification for Significant Professional Achievements"
February, 2000 - SPECIAL GRATIFICATION FROM THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: "For Significant Professional Achievements"
June, 1998 - NATO/EAPC RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
November, 1996 - SPECIAL PRIZE OF THE PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA: "Prize for Academic Excellence”
Medals & Declarations
March 9, 2010 - COMMANDER'S CROSS OF THE ORDER OF MERIT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND(Decree of the President of the Republic of Poland Nr. 61-2010, March 9, 2010)