Georgian Deputy Foreign Ministers Giga Bokeria and Nino Kalandadze will retain their positions, newly appointed Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze said on December 10 after being presented to the Ministry staff.

“Mr. Giga Bokeria gave me honor and agreed to stay on his position. It was my request,” Vashadze told reporters.

He also said that Davit Jalagonia, who served as the head of the Ministry’s Euro-Integration Department, would become a new deputy foreign minister in charge of Euro-Integration issues.

Vashadze called on the Foreign Ministry staff to work twenty-four-hours, since “the war is not over.”

“This aggression is not over and we still face those threats, which we faced in August,” Vashadze said.

He also stressed that Georgia’s policy towards Russia would remain unchanged.

“Our policy always was well-thought and respectful towards Russia,” he added.

Vashadze was appointed as the deputy foreign minister in February. He was in charge of relations with Russia. As a result of staff changes in November, he became minister of culture. He retained this position until this new appointment.