Temur Iakobashvili
Encyclopedia
Temuri Yakobashvili (born September 3, 1967) is a Georgian
political scientist, diplomat, and politician, serving as State Minister for Reintegration since 2008; he was named Deputy Prime Minister in 2009. On November 20, 2010, his nomination as Ambassador to the United States was announced.
family in Tbilisi
. He graduated from the Department of Physics at Tbilisi State University
in 1984. He attended diplomatic courses at the universities of Oxford
and Birmingham
(1998), the Yale University World Fellows Program
(2002), and the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government
(2003). He is married to Yana Fremer and has two children. He speaks Georgian, Russian, Hebrew, and English.
where he last served as the Director of the U.S., Canada and Latin America Department. He is a co-founder of, and from 2001 to 2008 was Executive Vice-President of, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, the largest think tank in the South Caucasus
. He is also a co-founder and member of the boards of the Georgian Council on Foreign Relations and Atlantic Council, and a member of the board of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. He has authored several publications on national security, conflict management, and foreign relations.
On January 31, 2008, he was appointed by the President of Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili
as State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration. He is the architect of Georgia's strategy of engagement with the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia
and South Ossetia
, which aims to "promote interaction among the divided populations of Georgia, currently separated by occupation lines."
On November 20, 2010, his nomination as Ambassador to the United States was announced.
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
political scientist, diplomat, and politician, serving as State Minister for Reintegration since 2008; he was named Deputy Prime Minister in 2009. On November 20, 2010, his nomination as Ambassador to the United States was announced.
Personal life
Yakobashvili was born into a Georgian JewishGeorgian Jews
The Georgian Jews are from the nation of Georgia, in the Caucasus...
family in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
. He graduated from the Department of Physics at Tbilisi State University
Tbilisi State University
Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University , better known as Tbilisi State University , is a university established on 8 February 1918 in Tbilisi, Georgia. TSU is the oldest university in the whole Caucasus region...
in 1984. He attended diplomatic courses at the universities of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
and Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
(1998), the Yale University World Fellows Program
Yale World Fellows Program
The Yale World Fellows Program is a program run by Yale University that seeks to build a network of emerging global leaders and broaden international understanding at Yale...
(2002), and the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
(2003). He is married to Yana Fremer and has two children. He speaks Georgian, Russian, Hebrew, and English.
Professional career
From 1990 to 2001, he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of GeorgiaMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, is one of seventeen ministries of the Cabinet of Georgia, responsible for the country's network of relationships with foreign nations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is located on Chitadze Street in Tbilisi, Georgia...
where he last served as the Director of the U.S., Canada and Latin America Department. He is a co-founder of, and from 2001 to 2008 was Executive Vice-President of, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies, the largest think tank in the South Caucasus
South Caucasus
The South Caucasus is a geopolitical region located on the border of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia also referred to as Transcaucasia, or The Trans-Caucasus...
. He is also a co-founder and member of the boards of the Georgian Council on Foreign Relations and Atlantic Council, and a member of the board of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs. He has authored several publications on national security, conflict management, and foreign relations.
On January 31, 2008, he was appointed by the President of Georgia
President of Georgia
The President of Georgia is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Government of Georgia. Executive power is split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government...
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
as State Minister of Georgia for Reintegration. He is the architect of Georgia's strategy of engagement with the Russian-occupied regions of Abkhazia
Abkhazia
Abkhazia is a disputed political entity on the eastern coast of the Black Sea and the south-western flank of the Caucasus.Abkhazia considers itself an independent state, called the Republic of Abkhazia or Apsny...
and South Ossetia
South Ossetia
South Ossetia or Tskhinvali Region is a disputed region and partly recognized state in the South Caucasus, located in the territory of the South Ossetian Autonomous Oblast within the former Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic....
, which aims to "promote interaction among the divided populations of Georgia, currently separated by occupation lines."
On November 20, 2010, his nomination as Ambassador to the United States was announced.