MOSCOW — Giorgi Margvelashvili, a former university rector and minister of education, was inaugurated on Sunday as the president of Georgia, promising to continue the country’s efforts to integrate with Europe while pursuing better relations with Russia, a delicate balance that has generally eluded the former Soviet republics.
“By ensuring a precedent of transfer of power through parliamentary and presidential elections, we succeeded in moving to a substantially new stage in the development of our state,” Mr. Margvelashvili, 44, said in his inaugural address after a swearing-in ceremony in the courtyard of the old Parliament building in Tbilisi, the capital.
“The post-Soviet period is over,” Mr. Margvelashvili declared. “And the development of a modern type of democracy has started, laying the foundation for a new, European kind of political culture.”
Mr. Margvelashvili was the handpicked candidate of Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire whose party, Georgia Dream, swept to power in parliamentary elections in October 2012. Mr. Ivanishvili has announced plans to resign this month after only a year in office and has proposed that the interior minister, Irakli Gharibashvili, 31, be his successor.
Mr. Ivanishvili has made clear that he intends to continue to influence Georgian public affairs heavily once he leaves government. Constitutional amendments, which came into force with Mr. Margvelashvili’s inauguration, strengthen the authority of the prime minister, making it the country’s most powerful political office.
The departing president, Mikheil Saakashvili, did not attend the inauguration, citing the arrests and prosecutions of many former members of his government on various charges of corruption and abuse of power, many of which appear to be politically motivated. Mr. Ivanishvili and other officials in Georgian Dream have raised the possibility that Mr. Saakashvili himself could face arrest and prosecution.
More than 50 countries sent delegations to the inauguration, which was held outdoors under a sparkling autumn sun.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Margvelashvili said that Georgia would press ahead with plans to give preliminary approval to new political and free-trade agreements with the European Union at a conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, this month. Russia has been maneuvering aggressively to dissuade former Soviet republics, including Ukraine and Moldova, from moving ahead with those agreements.
Russia, however, has considerably less sway over Georgia given the lingering bitterness over a brief war between the two countries in 2008 and continuing territorial disputes over Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions claimed by Georgia but whose independence is supported by Russia. Adding to the strains, Georgia has said it also hopes to join NATO.
“Drawing closer to the European Union and furthering bilateral relations with European countries hold a special place in Georgia’s foreign policy,” Mr. Margvelashvili said in his speech. “In a few days, the Association Agreement will be initialed at the Vilnius Summit.”
“Becoming a full member of the free world serves as a long-term guarantee of Georgia’s national security and sustainable development,” he added. “This, in turn, can be ultimately achieved by means of integration into the European Union and NATO.”
Mr. Margvelashvili acknowledged the tensions with Russia but expressed optimism. “Despite the difficult situation we are facing today, and in parallel with integrating into European and Euro-Atlantic structures,” he said, “we reiterate our commitment to further dialogue with Russia and build confidence to solve the problems existing today.”
“This dialogue will be built upon unequivocal respect for Georgia’s national interests,” he added, “respect for our internationally recognized borders and the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty.”
New Georgia President Takes Office
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