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Ruling party: ‘we were ready to sign EU-offered document with slight changes’
The ruling party has accused the opposition of being destructive in the EU-mediated talks.
The ruling Georgian Dream party says that they were ready to sign an agreement offered by the EU mediator in the talks with the opposition if several changes were introduced in it.
EU-mediated talks between Georgian political parties fail again
The ruling party MP Mamuka Mdinaradze stated earlier today that the opposition has refused to discuss any changes if their top demands on the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of opposition figures were not fulfilled.
They were against any discussions without the fulfilment of the top demands,” Mdinaradze said.
The opposition parties accused the ruling party of being destructive and said that no agreement will be acceptable for them which will not include the issue of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of ‘political prisoners.’
A leader of the United National Movement opposition party Khatia Dekanoidze has expressed hope that after the two fruitless involvement of the EU in the talks, now the US will get involved.
The opposition parties say that they will now prepare for the May 15 anti-government rally.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition have failed to come to an agreement in EU-mediated talks for the second time yesterday.
The document offered by EU mediator Christian Danielsson yesterday which concerned ‘ambitious electoral and judicial reform’ and offered amnesty for suspects and convicts of the June 2019 protests (including the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia) in Tbilisi was not signed by any of the parties.
The document did not include the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of the co-founder of the opposition-minded TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua (along with Melia) which has been demanded by the opposition since November 2020.
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/856
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EU Mediator Commends ‘Vibrant’ Civil Society, Admonishes Political Leaders
As I return to Brussels, I will take back with me this confidence that with such a vibrant civil society, Georgia will one day manage to turn the page and logics towards an ambitious future,” said EU mediator Christian Danielsson in the early minutes of march 31, after an unsuccessful eight-hour-long mediation between the ruling Georgian Dream and the opposition parties resulted in no compromise.
While welcoming all efforts in the mediation process, Danielsson, the European Council President Charles Michel’s Personal Envoy to mediate Georgia crisis, singled out that “NGOs made some very useful proposals and the media kept a high level of scrutiny throughout the process, holding the political leaders accountable.”
Danielsson’s remarks about the CSOs came as he admonished Georgia’s government and opposition leaders for unwillingness to compromise. “Fulfilling European aspirations requires compromise, especially by the party in power, to bring the country out the crisis,” the EU mediator highlighted.
“Georgia’s Western partners are not here to impose a solution on the parties,” Danielsson went on, underscoring that the role of the European Union in the political crisis is limited to mediation.
Danielsson said he proposed the parties a solution that involved “meaningful electoral and judicial reforms,” “sharing of responsibilities in parliament,” and ending “protracted debates on key politicized judicial cases and early elections.” Though, he expressed regret that “there was not that willingness today around the table to reach such compromise.”
https://civil.ge/archives/409683
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Another twist me thinks no reason given again
Finance Minister Resigns
31/03/2021 - 18:53 6 Less than a minute
Finance Minister of Georgia Ivane Machavariani resigned on March 31, without citing reasons for the departure. He also held the post of Deputy PM under Prime Minister Garibashvili.
A replacement has not yet been named.
Machavariani said that he initially wished to resign at the end of 2020 but decided to postpone his departure until works on the state budget and the eighth review of the International Monetary Fund’s Extended Fund Facility with Georgia were finished.
He was appointed as the Finance Minister in July 2018. Previously he held various positions at Geocell, a key communications firm in Georgia.
https://civil.ge/archives/409774
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01.04.2021 / 01:47AA
Ian Kelly Posner's visit - this is disturbing
Ian Kelly Posner's visit - this is disturbing
Former US Ambassador to Georgia Ian Kelly responds to the arrival of Russian journalist Vladimir Posner in Georgia.
"This is disturbing," he wrote on Twitter.
We would like to remind you that civil activists and politicians are holding a rally near the Rooms Hotel, where Russian journalist Vladimir Posner is staying with guests. They demand that Posner and his guests leave Georgia. Police are mobilized on the spot.
Earlier, Vladimir Posner and his guests were at the hotel "Vinotel", which was fined 10,000 GEL by the Labor Inspection Service for carrying out prohibited activities. Posner and his guests left the hotel through a police cordon amid protests.
https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/649325-ian-keli-pozneris-vizitze-es-shemashpotebelia
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Politics
01.04.2021 / 01:17AA
Mamuka Khazaradze - the person whom Putin is rewarding, has arrived - this fact was allowed by "Georgian Dream"
Mamuka Khazaradze - the person whom Putin is rewarding, has arrived - this fact was allowed by "Georgian Dream"
Mamuka Khazaradze responds to the fact of Vladimir Posner's arrival in Georgia and the current protest rally.
As Khazaradze notes, the person whom Putin is awarding has arrived in Georgia and this fact was allowed by "Otsneba".
"Gavrilov was nothing else ... Posner, who tells you that Abkhazia will never be Georgia, the person whom Putin is rewarding, has arrived ... Is this a state ?!
We need to separate this confusion. Where is the state interest. Who is the enemy, who is the lover.
"What is happening is completely unacceptable and this fact was allowed by the Georgian Dream," said Mamuka Khazaradze , whose comment was spread by the press service.
Let us remind you that Russian journalist Vladimir Posner arrived in Georgia today. According to him, he is in the country to celebrate his birthday. The protest was followed by protesters demanding that Posner leave Georgia.
https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/649322-mamuka-xazaraze-adamiani-romelsac-putini-ajildovebs-chamosulia-es-mocemuloba-daushva-kartulma-ocnebam
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Russian journalist Pozner leaving Tbilisi due to protests
Russian Journalist Vladimir Pozner (R ) and his guests had to leave Georgia earlier today with a charter flight due to protests.
Well-known Russian Journalist Vladimir Pozner, who had stated that Abkhazia (Georgia’s Russian-occupied region) will never be Georgia’, has left Tbilisi with his guests earlier today due to protests.
Pozner, who arrived in Tbilisi late yesterday with 40 other individuals to celebrate his 87th birthday, was also fined for violation of isolation and quarantine rules.
31 of 40 of his guests also faced the same fine.
The Vinotel hotel which hosted Pozner and his guests late yesterday was also fined 10,000 GEL for violating curfew.
Georgian civic activists and politicians initially gathered at the hotel late yesterday.
Former opposition European Georgia party member Elene Khoshtaria who now leads the new political party Droa stated that Pozner, ‘who has violated the law of Georgia on occupation’, should not have been allowed to enter the country.
However, the Georgian Interior Ministry said that Pozner, who holds US citizenship along with Russian, has not violated the law on occupation.
The ministry further stated that some of the people accompanying Pozner had Covid passports, while others held PCR test certificates which meant all of the visitors were maintaining coronavirus safety norms.
Pozner has left Georgia with a charter flight earlier today. Photo: IPN.
Pozner and his guests later moved to Rooms Hotel Tbilisi where demonstrators threw eggs at the building, saying that ‘Pozner, who is a Russian propagandist and supports the occupation of Georgian and Ukrainian territories, should not have been allowed to enter the country.’
The demonstrators also protested the violation of curfew by Pozner and his guests.
Pozner, who had plans to stay in Tbilisi until April 3, had to leave the country by charter flight.
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/865
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IMHO if the Posner visit was to test the waters prior to a GD lurch towards Russia, then it failed miserably. It gives me hope that the will is still there for Georgia to join NATO and the EU, and that democracy without the influence of BI will prevail (the influence of Saakashvili isn't welcome either IMHO).
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01.04.2021 / 10:19AA
Georgian Press Review 01.04.2021
* * *
"Disappointment, loss of enthusiasm, change of attitude" - how can the failed European media reflect on Georgia
"After the fruitless talks, EU mediator Christian Danielson left Georgia without comment - what detailed information will the Swedish diplomat give to the President of the European Council Charles Michel and what will be the next steps - will his mission continue, if the government-opposition dialogue can continue in another format? . On March 30, the second round of mediation between the opposition and the government with the participation of Danielson ended in vain. "The parties did not sign the document proposed by the European mediator, " the Rezonansi newspaper wrote in an article titled "Disappointment, loss of enthusiasm, change of attitude" - how the European media mediation in Georgia could be reflected.
"Unfortunately, there was no such readiness at the table to reach a compromise. "I will tell President Michelle what happened during those two days, she will decide what the next steps will be and when she will step down," Danielson said. According to Cornell Kakachia, head of the Georgian Policy Institute, the problem is not with the mediators, but with the parties not yet ready to compromise. "The problem here is not in the mediators, but in the fact that the positions of the parties are irreconcilable, therefore, the involvement of a representative of the United States or another Western country will not give us new data. The problem here is how ready the parties are - at this point it turns out they are not ready. It is likely that some pause will be taken to reflect on their positions and may be re-examined after some time. "If the parties do not show any desire to compromise in any way, then it is unlikely that diplomats will be sent in and pursued in vain on a case that has no prospects," Kakachia said. "Any failed talks between the government and the opposition will have a negative impact on the country's domestic and foreign affairs," the publication said.
"Inside the country, it is reflected in the fact that the society is not a bit tired. This even gives the impression that the likely situation in the country may not be stable, especially in the light of the announced actions, which may happen in the near future if a compromise is not reached. From a foreign point of view, it seems that the Georgian political class is not ripe for European politics, they say that they support Georgia's European orientation and membership and everything, but the case can not be proven. "Because, as Danielson said, the main starting point of European politics is the ability to reach a compromise, the ability of which our political class has not found at this stage."
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Part 2
"In the eyes of the international community as a whole, it leaves a very bad impression. The main thing is that if this fragmentation has lasted a long time and it has become even more acute, it may cause some frustration for Georgia, as it was for Ukraine. They did not want to hear that. If we continue like this, you may not even want to hear about the issue of Georgia and show less enthusiasm, which may then manifest itself in various actions. We may no longer have the support we once had. "Especially against the background that the ruling government will not carry out any reforms and this image that we had as the flagship of the Eastern Partnership is gradually changing. Against this background, we do not know how we will be able to attract attention," Kakachia concluded.
Analyst Zaal Anjaparidze thinks that if the parties do not show a tendency to compromise, no matter what new format is proposed, it will end with the same result, but he also says that there is a second option, which means that the US should be actively involved in the process with its characteristic style. "As Danielson himself said, the work will continue, but in what format, Brussels should probably think in agreement with the Georgian side, because in practice the format of mediation offered by the EU to the Georgian political elite has failed, so a new format will be considered," he said. Anjaparidze, in his opinion, "However, no matter what format is devised, if the parties do not show good will and willingness to compromise, no matter what format they offer,"
"The second option is for the United States to intervene directly in the style of the process in the form of direct pressure, and to raise the issue of, say, the cessation of aid there, the sanctioning of individuals," said Senator Rish, former ambassadors Ian Kelly and David Kramer. It is true that the State Department may have other opinions in this regard, as they are well aware that imposing sanctions on a strategic partner country, even against certain individuals, can be more harmful than beneficial and may backfire. Many nuances are taken into account here, but in the Senate that the hearing on Georgia was held, there were some expert opinions before that if the EU effort finally fails, the United States should take the lead in terms of mediators.
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Part 3
"Unsuccessful negotiations will have a multidimensional impact on the country. If the protests continue and will most likely continue, it will have a negative impact on the country's investment climate, as well as on the economy, including the exchange rate of the national currency." In addition, this may lead to some social controversy, we are waiting for the third wave of the pandemic and we do not know how this wave will pass. Given that the population is still skeptical about vaccination, we do not follow the security rules and may have to introduce a new "lockdown" as in Europe. "This will have an even greater impact on the economy, and the opposition will be given the basis for new protests," the respondent continued.
"As for the foreign policy dimension, Danielson said that if I bring information to Brussels and it is easy to imagine what information it will bring, it will not be good information for Georgia. Therefore, in the perception of European politicians and decision makers, Georgia as a country and its political elite will be perceived as a country that is still very far from European standards. It is true that they will not let us go, but in any case, attitudes can change and change, not for our benefit, it is very unfortunate, ”Zaal Anjaparidze explained.
"Gakharia should present new party in May-June" - former prime minister wants to end polarization in the country
"We must end the political polarization in the country and take care of the creation of a successful state," said Giorgi Gakharia, responding to the failed talks between the government and the opposition, with the involvement of European mediation. "Yesterday showed us once again that radicalism and radical positions are still the damaging factor that has hindered and is hindering the construction of a modern Georgian state. "We must end the political polarization and take care of creating a successful state," said Giorgi Gakharia . Resonance spoke to analysts about his call and political future. "In their opinion, this was an ambitious statement by the former prime minister and a hint that he wants to occupy the niche of a third political center in the country, " Rezonansi writes .In the article, entitled "Gakharia must present a new party in May-June" - the former prime minister wants to end the polarization in the country.
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Part 4
"Of course, I agree that radicalism and polarization should end in the country, but what mechanisms does Gakharia know to end radicalism and polarization, if he tells us he will help us a lot. Every new political force that comes into politics wants to end the existing polarization in the political spectrum, but when they come to power, this topic is forgotten by everyone. Saakashvili's party also came to power with this idea, but we all saw how the processes developed. So desire is one thing, action is another. Theoretically, of course, it is possible to end radicalism, but it requires a majority to come to power. "Whether he will become a third political force in the country, or how he will be able to compete with both the 'Dream' and the 'National Movement', depends on many factors, including the situation in the country."
"As for Gakharia's first political move, in my opinion, he should make an official presentation of the new party in May or early June in order to run in the local elections. "Local elections are a fertile ground and a chance to form a new party," Vakhtang Dzabiradze said. Regarding the Gakharia, political scientist Nika Chitadze says that the former Prime Minister will try to be an independent force in politics, however, he will be a constructive opposition to the Georgian Dream.
"Gakharia has the resources to form a new party and get involved in political life. He will try to be an independent political force, but he will probably be a constructive opposition to the Georgian Dream, which he organizes for the Dream, and his opposition will not be the National Movement, but he is happy. As for how many supporters Gakharia's new party will have for the electorate, it is difficult to say, because both the Georgian Dream and the National Movement have their strong voters. However, most of his supporters may be people who do not vote for the "Dream" or the "National Movement". Whether he will be able to cooperate with the opposition and end the polarization in the country is a very interesting topic. "But where the opposition received Burjanadze, it is surprising that it received Gakharia, especially if it talks about the June 20 news."
It will soon be seen whether Ivanishvili's project is happy, because Ivanishvili himself said before leaving politics that the "Dream" will not always be in power and a new force must come. Therefore, I do not rule out that Gakharia's party will be secretly funded by Bidzina Ivanishvili , because if the "National Movement" comes to power, Bidzina will no longer stand in Georgia, "Chitadze added.
https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/649355-kartuli-presis-mimoxilva-01042021
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Part 1
Georgia was the post-Soviet beacon of hope for democracy but political turmoil could unravel it all
David Lidington
Sir David Lidington is a former cabinet minister
Georgian opposition representative Giorgi Vashadze attends a press conference following the second round of European Union-mediated talks between Georgia's ruling party and the opposition to resolve a political impasse sparked by elections last year, in Tbilisi early on March 31, 2021. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP) (Photo by VANO SHLAMOV/AFP via Getty Images)
Georgia, for so long a beacon of hope for democracy and the rule of law in the post-Soviet world, is now once more mired in a political crisis. It is a tragedy for Georgia, where polling by the Washington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) shows that the overwhelming majority of people want their country to be aligned more closely with the West, and a challenge for the European Union and the United Kingdom, both of which which have a long standing interest in and commitment to Georgia’s programme of reform.
Last month, police detained the main opposition leader, Nika Melia, using tear gas to force their way into the building where he had taken refuge. Astonishingly, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia, confirmed in office barely two months earlier, resigned in protest, criticising his government – by implication admitting that he hadn’t really been in charge of his own administration and that political motives lay behind Melia’s arrest.
Transparency International, the global anti-corruption movement, denounced the erosion of the rule of law, the lack of judicial independence and the influence of the ruling Georgian Dream party over the courts, prosecutors and police, something which, they argued, was being “weaponised to target political opponents”. It all added up, in their words, to “serious democratic backsliding” and a culture in which “impunity seems increasingly the norm for high-level corruption”.
Politics in Georgia is bitterly polarised, with elected opposition MPs boycotting Parliament amid allegations of malpractice during last October’s general election.
Fear that the courts are subject to political influence and arbitrary actions by the Georgian government are also putting at risk inward investment that is desperately needed in a country where roughly a quarter of adults say they are unemployed and NDI’s polling reports the top three priorities for voters as jobs, inflation and poverty.
Two strategic infrastructure projects have been aborted on what seemed pretty murky grounds. First, early in 2020 the Georgian government cancelled its contract for the construction of a deep-sea port at Anaklia, despite a consortium of international investors having been formed to raise the funds required. Georgia, despite 190 miles of Black Sea coastline, has no deep-sea port. Anaklia would have enabled it to compete with Russian ports for trade with the Middle East, Central Asia, India and China.
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2/2
Then, last autumn, the Georgian government railroaded emergency legislation through parliament to give the state regulator power to appoint “special managers” to any telecoms or communications company, with power to hire and fire employees and to freeze out existing directors.
In one case, over a dispute with internet company Caucasus Online, those powers were used to effectively take control over the foreign-owned company, seizing its assets, preventing the repayment of its debts to Georgian banks, and depriving its shareholders of any right to challenge the government’s ruling. By freezing Caucasus Online, the Georgian government also successfully blocked the company’s “digital silk road” project – a new fibre-optic pipeline linking Asia and Europe across Georgia and Azerbaijan and under the Caspian and Black Seas, without the need to cross either Russian or Iranian territory.
Georgia matters to British interests, both economic and strategic, something recognised by the Johnson government when in 2019 it signed a Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with Georgia, the UK’s first with any eastern European country. Georgia has a formal partnership with NATO, has deployed more soldiers to the allied mission in Afghanistan than any other non-NATO member and has contributed to peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African Republic.
The United Kingdom is the biggest supplier of foreign direct investment into Georgia and just a few months ago boosted UK Export Finance there to £3 billion. Georgian territory provides a narrow corridor for a gas pipeline from Azerbaijan to Turkey and Europe, avoiding both Iran and Russia.
In its integrated defence and security review, published on 16 March, the British government renewed its commitment to focus efforts primarily on the Euro-Atlantic region and explicitly mentioned the Black Sea in that context.
The Review also committed the UK to “promote effective, transparent governance, robust democratic institutions and the rule of law” as part of being a force for good in the world.
Georgia is a country whose democratic transformation, in which such high hopes were placed, is now in trouble. Both United Kingdom interests and United Kingdom values are at stake. I hope that our government, working with allies in the United States and Europe, will use its diplomatic muscle and the UK’s long experience of helping young democracies to build and strengthen democratic institutions, independent courts and the rule of law to enable the people of Georgia to continue on the democratic path which they have chosen.
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MEPs ‘deeply disappointed’ by failure of EU-mediated talks in Georgia, warn of difficulties in EU financial aid
MEPs have blamed both the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition for failing the EU-mediated talks. Photo: TI EU.
Seven MEPs have released a joint statement saying that they are ‘deeply disappointed’ with political leaders in Georgia ‘for their inability’ to reach an agreement in the EU-mediated talks last Tuesday on election-related issues and the release of opposition figures.
EU-mediated talks between Georgian political parties fail again
Both the ruling and the main opposition parties taking part in the discussions are to be blamed for this outcome and a special responsibility lies with the party in government,” said the statement.
Ruling party: ‘we were ready to sign EU-offered document with slight changes’
They said that the proposal offered by EU-mediator in the talks Christian Danielsson was ‘in the best interests of Georgia.’
The content of this proposal is indeed the right way ahead for Georgia: ambitious electoral and judicial reforms, meaningful sharing of responsibilities in the Georgian Parliament and, most importantly, a solution on future elections and on two cases of politicised justice,” said the statement.
The MEPs said that following the refusal from the political parties to compromise, ‘Georgia’s leaders should not expect a return to business as usual from the European Union.’
The European Parliament in particular will call for consequences in terms of EU financial assistance, including both a suspension of further disbursements of and an increase in conditionality linked to EU Macro Financial Assistance and budget support programmes,” said the statement.
Danielsson, who was earlier sent to Georgia for mediation by the European Council President Charles Michel on March 12, returned back to Tbilisi on March 27 after the failure of his previous mediation efforts.
However, his second effort also failed.
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Forgot the link
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/881
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US Deputy Assistant Secretary Kent: Georgian gov’t risking goodwill of senators
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent has commented on the failed EU-mediated talks in Georgia. Photo: New York Times.
US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent has reacted to the failed EU-mediated talks between Georgian political parties and has told the Voice of America Georgian bureau that the Georgian government ‘is risking the goodwill’ of the US Senate ‘which has been too generous to Georgia over years’ in providing the financial aid.
EU-mediated talks between Georgian political parties fail again
Kent said that ‘politics is the art of making compromises’ and that the failure in the talks puts Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic goals at risk.
MEPs ‘deeply disappointed’ by failure of EU-mediated talks in Georgia, warn of difficulties in EU financial aid
He stated that Georgia needs a comprehensive election and justice reforms to achieve success on its Euro-Atlantic path.
Kent has stated that since gaining independence from the Soviet Union the US has ensured more than 5.5 billion USD support for Georgia.
Georgia has received 4.3 bln in financial aid from US in past 28 years
He said that currently the US annual financial support for Georgia stands at 135 million USD.
Kent stated that the failure in the talks puts the US senators' goodwill at risk who make decisions on the financial aid.
He said that the US expects the parties in Georgia will come to an agreement and carry out the reforms the country needs.
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/882
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Well at least Europe and US seem to be coordinated and making the same noise simultaneously this time. The Demo on the 15th will be interesting
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The GD are trying to put spin on the MEP's criticism of the current situation to downplay the significance.
02.04.2021 / 11:38AA
Gia Volski - This is the appeal of 7 MEPs and for reference, there are several hundred MEPs
https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/649570-gia-volski-es-aris-7-evroparlamentaris-mimartva-da-cnobistvis-ik-ramdenime-aseuli-evroparlamentaria
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02.04.2021 / 12:44AA
Karl Hartzel - The messages of the MEPs should be taken seriously in Georgia - the signatories of the statement are the leading MEPs
Karl Hartzel - The messages of the MEPs should be taken seriously in Georgia - the signatories of the statement are the leading MEPs
According to the EU Ambassador, Carl Hartzel, the statement made by the MEPs in Georgia should be taken seriously.
As Hartzel told reporters, the signatories of the statement are leading MEPs who play a different role in Georgia-EU relations.
"I can not speak on behalf of the European Parliament or its specific members. I will just say that, of course, there are very clear messages and it is noteworthy that the signatories of this statement are the leading MEPs, who have a different role when it comes to Georgia-EU relations. "So the messages from MEPs need to be taken seriously," said Karl Hartzel.
Recall that the MEPs issued a statement and expressed concern over the fact that the political leaders in Georgia rejected the proposal of the EU mediator Christian Danielson.
"After the refusal of the political parties to compromise, Georgian leaders should not expect the EU to return to normal activities. "There will be a special call from the European Parliament to address the consequences in terms of financial assistance, including a call to halt the further allocation of funds from funds and to increase the conditionality associated with EU macro-financial assistance and budget support programs," the statement said.
https://www.interpressnews.ge/ka/article/649591-karl-harceli-evroparlamentarebis-gzavnilebi-sakartveloshi-seriozulad-unda-iknas-agkmuli-gancxadebis-xelmomcerebi-camqvani-evroparlamentarebi-arian
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Russia increasing troops in Ukraine...
BBC News - Russian 'troop build-up' near Ukraine alarms Nato
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-56616778
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The President of Ukraine spoke by telephone with the President of the United States of America Joe Biden today, April 2.
"President Biden has assured me that Ukraine will not be left alone against Russian aggression," Zelensky said in a speech to the Ukrainian Rada.
The talks between the US and Ukrainian defense ministers took place yesterday, where the American side reaffirmed that "in case of escalation of Russian aggression, Washington will not leave Ukraine alone."
According to the Ukrainian side, the conversation between the ministers was initiated by Washington.
Russian Duma Deputy Konstantin Zatulin spoke about the position of the Russian side today, April 2. He said the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's statement on US assistance was "dangerous and encourages confrontation in the region."
Also today, Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Russia could not abide by the ceasefire agreement in Donbas because it was not a party to the conflict. He blamed Kiev.
According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, on March 26, the Russian Armed Forces once again violated the ceasefire agreement and attacked the Ukrainian forces with such a large-caliber weapon, killing 4 Ukrainian soldiers and seriously injuring two others.
According to Kiev, the attack took place north of Donetsk, near the settlement of Shum.
The incident was responded to the same day by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who called on leaders involved in the Normandy peace format [Ukraine, Russia, France, Germany] to do everything possible to maintain the ceasefire agreement.
After the incident, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Army Ruslam Khomchak told parliament that Russia's actions were aggressive and detrimental to the country's security.
"The Russian armed forces are gradually increasing the number of armed forces on the Russian-Ukrainian border," Khomchak said.
Yesterday, April 1, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that "Russia's current escalation is systemic and the largest that has been observed in recent years." According to him, Russia's actions have brought the processes to a standstill, from which the only solution is diplomacy.
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Every important election in Georgia becomes a source of controversy and often a political crisis, as it is now, after the 2020 parliamentary elections. Since independence, no electoral system and administration has been established that would neither require revision after each election nor cause distrust.
Our election administration is built on a collegial principle with the assumption that, on the one hand, with balance and mutual control between the parties, and on the other hand, with the participation of independent professionals in the administration, it will be possible to hold credible and objective elections. In fact, it is difficult not to see that the existing system can not solve the problems related to trust and efficiency. These problems are caused by the systemic shortcomings of the current election administration, as well as the general nihilism in the country, the degradation of the electoral process and the often irresponsible positions of political parties. Good elections lead to many things, and many of them go beyond the competencies of the election administration.But without the transformation of the election administration, it will be impossible to create a qualitatively better electoral environment in our polarized and radicalized society.
Therefore, it is necessary not only to work on improving the existing system of the election administration, which from election to election shows that it is not working properly, but also to fundamentally rethink the arrangement of the election administration and build it on new principles. To this end, we have set up a panel of experts at the Center for Multiparty Democracy in Eastern Europe to work on a vision for a possible reform of the election administration. You can read the full document here, and below I will briefly tell you about the possible and necessary directions of the reform.
At least what are the main weaknesses of the existing administration model? Three important problems can be identified:
Control of political parties by the election administration, especially, as a rule, by the ruling party;
Inability of the election administration to fully and effectively implement its mandate;
Insufficient qualification and remuneration of election administration employees.
Party sabotage of democracy
The ostensibly democratic model of staffing the CEC actually provides for one-party control: the five candidates for the CEC chairmanship and membership are elected by the president, and they mean a majority in parliament, where the decisive word belongs to the parliamentary [ruling party]. The other 6 members are appointed by the political parties represented in the parliament in proportion to the votes received by them. As a result, we get a Central Election Commission where the majority are people elected by the ruling political group. The rest, the representatives of the opposition parties, are deprived of the real opportunity to participate in decision-making.
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The Irony
Largest Eastern European oil company enters Georgian Black Sea waters
OMV Petrom will start operating in Georgian Black Sea waters. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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Agenda.ge, 25 Feb 2021 - 16:21, Tbilisi,Georgia
Largest Eastern European oil company OMV Petrom and one of the ten largest oil giants in Europe, is entering Georgia to extract oil and gas in the country as a result of winning an open international tender last year, announces the Ministry of Economy of Georgia.
The agreement on extraction, acquisition, processing and re-interpretation of geological and geophysical data for oil and gas extraction will be signed in the nearest future.
Photo: 1tv.ge.
The company will be allowed to carry out works in the offshore exploration block that covers a total area of 5,282 square kilometers for 25 years.
The fact that such a large business group is entering Georgia despite the pandemic shows that our investment climate is so resistant to external shocks that the pandemic could not do anything. On the contrary, we have several notable examples of the entry of leading companies in its field into both industry, IT and so on", Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava siad.
OMV Petrom will carry out two and three dimensional seismic exploration works, and at the last stage drilling will begin.
The cost of the drilling stage depends on the results of the studies.
Georgia is the only country in the Black Sea basin where oil and gas works are not underway on the shelf.
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/526
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Former US Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker says no need for repeat elections in Georgia
The ruling Georgian Dream party has won the parliamentary elections last year. However, claiming the elections were rigged, the opposition refuses to take up their mandates. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
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Agenda.ge, 3 Apr 2021 - 19:57, Tbilisi,Georgia
US foreign policy expert and former ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker does not see the need for repeat parliamentary elections in Georgia.
Volker told TV Pirveli media outlet that despite certain violations which need to be investigated, the OSCE/ODIHR has recognised last year’s elections as transparent and legitimate.
Int'l observers: parliamentary elections were competitive, fundamental freedoms were respected
The political situation in Georgia has become so tense that none of the sides want to take the responsibility”, Volker said.
Welcoming the EU-backed mediation effort led by Christian Danielsson, Kurt Vokler said the ruling party and the opposition should carry out the reforms offered by the EU mediator together.
EU-mediated talks between Georgian political parties fail again
Last week the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition failed to come to an agreement in the EU-mediated talks for the second time in Georgia.
The US and EU lawmakers, who are concerned with the political crisis in Georgia, have called on all parties to find the solution out of the deadlock.
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/894
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European Parliament member Michael Gahler: Georgian Dream, UNM should make compromise on UNM Melia’s release
MEP Michael Gahler has spoken with the Georgian TV Pirveli media outlet.
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Agenda.ge, 3 Apr 2021 - 20:57, Tbilisi,Georgia
Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs Michael Gahler says the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition United National Movement (UNM) should reach an agreement on the release of UNM leader Nika Melia from the detention facility if he will wear a monitoring bracelet again.
Speaking with TV Pirveli media outlet Gahler, who is the member of the Group of the European People's Party, said the cases of opposition leader Melia and co-founder of Mtavari Arkhi media outlet Giorgi Rurua - whom opposition call ‘political prisoners’ - has better be separated.
One individual ready to post bail for UNM opposition leader Nika Melia
Co-founder of Mtavari Arkhi channel Giorgi Rurua sentenced to 4 years in prison
Gahler said while in the case of convicted Rurua the option is the presidential pardon, in Melia’s case he needs to post the bail to be released from the detention.
Saying that the attempted raid on the parliament back in 2019 and the consequent refusal to wear the monitoring bracelet was the provocation from Melia, Gaher believes the opposing sides should try to find an agreement over his release.
UNM leader Melia is charged with incitement to violence during the June protests in Tbilisi back in 2019 which were sparked by the presence of Russian MPs in the Georgian parliament.
He was released on 30,000 GEL bail on June 27, 2020. However, Melia violated the conditions of his bail by publicly removing his surveillance bracelet and 40,000 GEL was added to his bail in November 2020.
Melia has refused to pay the 40,000 GEL bail (within 50 days of sentencing) and on February 5, 2021 the Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office warned him of the possibility of his bail conditions being reversed to detention.
Melia was arrested on February 23, 2021 for his refusal to pay 40,000 GEL of his 70,000 GEL bail which sparked further political tension in the country and pushed the opposition to the street again.
His release is one of top demands of the opposition, along with the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections, in the currently ongoing EU-mediated talks between the ruling party and the opposition.
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/895
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Georgian PM: NATO needs Georgia as much as we need it
“We deeply believe that NATO needs Georgia as much as we need it,” Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili echoed the 72nd anniversary of NATO on Facebook, Trend reports citing 1tv.ge.
As the Prime Minister notes, Georgia made significant progress in cooperation with the Alliance.
“The founding principle of NATO states that the well-being of society is impossible without freedom and security. Their collective provision through political and military means is the essential goal of the organization.
The aspiration for NATO membership, Georgia’s top foreign and security policy priority, is based on a broad public and political consensus, as enshrined in the Constitution.
In cooperation with the Alliance, Georgia has made significant progress in terms of democracy development and military infrastructure improvement.
Our government has further deepened and strengthened this cooperation, based on the principle ‘More NATO in Georgia and more Georgia in NATO’.
Today, Georgia is one of NATO’s closest and the most reliable partners. Our military contributes to peacekeeping operations, be it the NATO Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan or the EU missions in the Central African Republic and Mali.
We are ready to share the responsibility of collective defence fully.
I told NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg when we met that it is time for Georgia to advance in NATO.
We believe that the expansion towards the Black Sea is a necessary condition for European and world security. NATO needs Georgia as much as we need it,” reads the statement by PM Garibashvili.
https://en.trend.az/scaucasus/georgia/3403844.html
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Georgian PM on NATO’s 72nd anniversary: Georgia determined to become full-fledged member
https://agenda.ge/en/news/2021/899
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A PM who recently resigned is Georgia’s most popular politician
Former Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has 65% approval rating among Georgians.
TBILISI, DFWatch–A recently retired prime minister is one of Georgia’s most popular politicians, according to a new survey published by the International Republican Institute (IRI) on Monday.
Giorgi Gakharia, who resigned in February citing disagreement with his party colleagues over the detention of UNM leader Nika Melia, is liked by 65% ??of respondents, far more than his former boss, billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili (40%), Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze (33%) and GD Chairman Irakli Kobakhidze (33%).
On the opposition side, European Georgia leader Davit Bakradze (52%), Nika Melia of UNM (42%), Strategy Agmashenebeli chairman Giorgi Vashadze and Lelo member, former speaker of parliament Davit Usupashvili are most liked.
Only the Patriarch, Ilia II, is more liked than Gakharia with 89% approval rating. The Patriarch has been at the top of the polls for the last decades.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze is third in the poll behind Gakharia with 54%.
Incumbent Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili was not included in the ranking, as the poll was conducted between February 2 and February 26, while Gakharia resigned on February 18.
https://dfwatch.net/a-pm-who-recently-resigned-is-georgias-most-popular-politician-54667
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Positive for COVID-19
06/04/2021 - 12:09 3 Less than a minute
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Georgian Prime Minister Iraki Garibashvili tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the government press office announced on April 6.
“The Prime Minister is feeling well, he is in self-isolation and continues to work remotely,” the press office reported.
https://civil.ge/archives/410850