The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia issues a statement regarding the "Ambassadors' Conference" and explains the rules of protocol arrangement.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses concern that the "world-recognized rule" of the protocol arrangement was unacceptable to the President and hopes that the technical circumstance will not be an obstacle for the President of Georgia to participate in high-level meetings with Georgian diplomats in the future.

"At the annual "Ambassadors' Conference", the speeches of representatives of the highest branch of government are traditionally provided. Addresses of the President of Georgia, Prime Minister and Speaker of the Parliament were scheduled at this year's ambassadorial as well.

4 central seats were designated for high-ranking guests at the event, at which time, the constitutional position of the President was taken into account and the President's seat was allocated to the central chair, to the left of the President was the seat of the Prime Minister of Georgia, and to the right of the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.

The mentioned rule of protocol arrangement is recognized in the world and it is unfortunate that the arrangement provided to the Administration of the President was found to be unacceptable. We hope that the mentioned technical circumstance will not prove to be an obstacle for the President of Georgia to participate in high-level meetings with Georgian diplomats in the future," reads the statement.

source: IPN