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MEP Marina Kaljurand: We still expect Georgia to fulfill what would have been the criteria for the disbursement

The EU tranche was a topic of the European Time comment with MEP, the Chair of the delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee, Marina Kaljurand. „Georgia is a sovereign country and we respect the Georgian authorities’ decision not to request this tranche of EUR 75 million EU macro-financial assistance, which was due to be conditionally disbursed by 30/09. We also understand the economic arguments justifying this decision, i.e. rapid economic recovery. That said, even if Georgia does not request the remaining tranche, we still expect them to fulfill what would have been the conditionality criteria for the disbursement, notably the reform of the justice sector (also pinpointed in the 19 April agreement brokered by Charles Michel)“, - said MEP Marina Kaljurand. The EU calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold their reform commitments. The EU’s assistance to Georgia remains conditional on progress on key reforms. Related article: MEP Markéta Gregorová: The funding has been conditional on fulfilling the political pre-conditions MEP Marina Kaljurand: we still expect them to fulfill what would have been the conditionality criteria for the disbursement, notably the reform of the justice sector (also pinpointed in the 19 April agreement brokered by Charles Michel)“, - said MEP Marina Kaljurand.

MEP Markéta Gregorová: The funding has been conditional on fulfilling the political pre-conditions

EU tranche was a topic of the Europetime comment with MEP Markéta Gregorová (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance). She said that the funding has been conditional on fulfilling the political pre-conditions, including the respect of democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law. „In the Memorandum of Understanding, which the Georgian government signed to receive the MFA funding, there are no consequences for not receiving the funding, so there is nothing, in particular, that will happen. Of course, the funding has been conditional on fulfilling the political pre-conditions, including the respect of democratic principles, human rights, and the rule of law, so I do hope this won't change Georgia's direction in this regard. But their decision is understandable, as they reached the legal limit of 60 % GDP of foreign debt during the pandemic and I understand they need to start changing it“, - said Markéta Gregorová. EU calls on the Georgian authorities to uphold their reform commitments, the EU’s assistance to Georgia remains conditional on progress on key reforms.

MEP Andrius Kubilius: The government of Georgia understands that it will not get the loan proposal from the EU Commission because the government is not able to fulfill the conditions

The EU tranche and other current issues were the topics of the Europe Time interview with MEP and Co-President of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Andrius Kubilius. He said that the Georgian economy needs financial resources to be invested in all the developments that are needed for the country and its citizens. So, when the government declares that they do not want to take that loan, of course, it is a big mistake that simply makes Georgian people suffer more: ET: How do you evaluate the current situation with EU macro-financial assistance? Today, the Prime Minister of Georgia stated that the country would refrain from taking the EU loan. Before that, the Georgian government was reminded by both the European Commission and the President of the European Council of the need to meet the conditions. It means that the government understood that it would not get the loan proposal from the EU Commission because the government was not able to fulfill the conditions that were attached to that loan. First of all, the conditions are on the selection of judges, and, second, on the implementation of the so-called Charles Michel agreement. When the government signed an agreement and promised to implement it, there was criticism from the experts of the commission that the government was not implementing part of that agreement, which was about reforms of the court system and the appointments of new judges. So, that was what the government did. It was against the agreement. The Georgian economy needs financial resources to be invested in all the developments that are needed for the country and its citizens. So, when the government declares that they do not want to take that loan, of course, it is a big mistake that simply makes the Georgian people suffer more. They will not get this financial possibility, which is sorely needed in Georgia. These reforms are important for Georgia to be ready to apply for a membership application. If Georgia is not implementing what the EU has requested on the reforms of the court system and the appointment of judges, it means that this government is not bringing Georgia closer to the EU. When the government declines the request of the EU institutions to make reforms in the court system, it shows that the government does not have a European type of rule of law system or European type of transparency in the court, which means, unfortunately, the Georgian people are declining the possibility of having a much more effective, much more transparent, and trustful rule of law system in Georgia. Second, the ruling party decided to declare that they were not going to implement the whole agreement. Now the Georgian government has declared that they do not have a loan that has such conditions, which, unfortunately, means that the government has very clearly declared that they are not going to implement the conditions attached to the loan. These conditions are very important for Georgia, first of all. And again, the Georgian government is losing international trust and international respect. ET: What does it signify for Georgia and what does the country look like? Unfortunately, we have been worried for quite a long time about the political situation in Georgia and how fragile the Georgian democracy is. Of course, European institutions spent a lot of effort assisting Georgian political parties, including the ruling party, to stabilize the situation, and Charles Michel played an important role. But as we can see, first of all, the ruling party is not respecting the efforts of EU institutions, and that is what is causing much more trouble when we are looking into how things can develop in Georgia. The Georgian government declared that they will make a formal application for EU membership and provide good conditions for that application to be discussed with a positive outcome among EU institutions and EU member states. The Georgian government needs to win back international respect and international trust. With all the crisis, with all the recent developments, not respecting the so-called Charles Mishell agreement, unfortunately, the Georgian government and the ruling party are damaging this international trust and international respect towards Georgia, and it could become a real obstacle, a real problem in 2024, to having successful discussions on Georgian applications. ET: Local elections may have special significance in these circumstances. We expect that those elections will be executed transparently according to all the best European standards. That was one of the goals of the Charles Mischel agreement. The ruling party decided not to implement this agreement, but I hope that elections will be organized in the best way. The ruling party promised that if they did not get some percentage (40%) during the local elections, there would be a national election. So it will be very important that the ruling party stick to that promise, and in any case, it looks like early parliament elections would be a good solution to this deep political crisis in Georgia, which was very difficult to resolve, even with the participation of the EU leadership. So, perhaps, Georgians need to find a way to get out of the political crisis. It was a good agreement to solve the crisis, but the biggest damage to implementing this agreement was done by the ruling party when it declared they were not going to implement it. Of course, perhaps it was also the mistake of the biggest opposition party, (UNM) not to sign that agreement. No, we have a very unclear situation. There is no clear path to how Georgia can get out of the political crisis. Again, we can just urge the ruling party to nevertheless stick to what they promised. In such a way, local elections are becoming, in some ways, not only important for local elections, but also as a possible step in a national political crisis and national political division. In my opinion, in the deep political crisis that we are experiencing now, I think new parliament elections could be a good and effective way out of the crisis and bring back walking democracy, which is sorely needed in Georgia. And Georgia needs to be seriously evaluated as a possible candidate for EU membership in 2024. ET: At the same time, how do you evaluate the efforts of the Association Trio countries, including Georgia? They emphasized a unified strategy, beginning with signing the declarations in Kyiv and then in Batumi. I am very much in favor of this association trio initiative because we have been proposing this association trio from the European Parliament side since 2019. It's good that it's started to move ahead. They deserve a much more ambitious approach from the EU side. But also, what would be very important is that those countries, especially Georgia, would try their best individually to show that they can make reforms and democracy effective because the trio strategy will not resolve those issues, which can be resolved only by individual countries. So, Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova need to do their homework. Moldova, after the elections, has the possibility of moving forward much more rapidly. Georgia appears to be losing the momentum of reforms that it was able to demonstrate before the political crisis. It may be critical for the three countries to make significant progress toward EU integration before 2030, but no mistakes can be made at the level of national states. Unfortunately, Georgia is showing a bad example of how things can become very difficult. The Association agreement was a good instrument for Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to move forward. The financial assistance that is coming is very important, but we would like to see from the EU side a more clear and more ambitious policy towards the Eastern Partnership, especially towards the Trio countries, which should be similar to what the EU implemented in the Western Balkans region. Western Balkan countries have clear dates to become members of the EU. That clear vision is helping, first of all, Western Balkan countries to keep their motivations at a high level. Unfortunately, that is not the case for the Eastern Partnership. The EU is still not able to promise a much clearer vision of what is next. We are trying hard from the European Parliament side to ask for proposals from EU institutions, especially during the forthcoming summit, to have much clearer and more ambitious language and much clearer steps in how the next steps of the trio countries' integration will be implemented. To give these countries a clear path, what is next? We discuss different scenarios of how things can move forward. One of the scenarios is to propose "intermediate status", which could be similar to some countries, (Norway and Switzerland, which are not part of the EU). I mean that countries like Georgia, Ukraine, and Moldova could have also benefited from membership, like being integrated into a single market, getting all the possible financial support, but not having the right to participate in EU institutions.

MEPs have released a joint statement on the 13th anniversary of the Russian aggression against Georgia of August 2008

A joint statement has released by the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, MEP David McAllister, the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus, MEP Marina KALJURAND, and the European Parliament's Standing Rapporteur on Georgia, MEP Sven MIKSER on the 13th anniversary of the Russian aggression against Georgia of August 2008. „Today marks the 13th anniversary of the Russian aggression of august 2008 against Georgia. Despite the challenges posed by a difficult geopolitical situation, the citizens of Georgia are part of the pan-European family and they have chosen freely and overwhelmingly to follow the Euro-Atlantic integration path. Unfortunately, the inhabitants of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region / South Ossetia can neither exercise their political and civil rights as Georgian citizens nor benefit from the socio-economic development fostered by the Association Agreement with the EU, as they continue to suffer from the scourge of Russian occupation. Their suffering is further aggravated by the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. We commend the Georgian authorities for their laudable readiness for dialogue, illustrated by the ambitious 'A Step to a Better Future' initiative aimed at facilitating trade, education and mobility for the citizens living on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Lines. We welcome the Government Commission recently launched by the office of the Prime Minister of Georgia to elaborate and implement the Georgian State Strategy for De-occupation and Peaceful Conflict Resolution. We remain firmly committed to Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, and we are determined to contribute to a peaceful resolution to the conflict, including through the full implementation of the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 12 August 2008, the Geneva International Discussions, the activities of the EU Monitoring Mission (EUMM) and the efforts of the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia. We call on the Russian Federation to fulfill its obligations under the ceasefire agreement. Furthermore, we call on the Russian Federation, as the country exercising de facto control over Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region / South Ossetia (as highlighted by the European Court of Human Rights in its ruling of 21 January 2021 on the inter-State case of Georgia vs.Russia II), to grant the EUMM unhindered access to both occupied regions, to revert the rampant 'borderization' process, to put an end to systematic human rights violations – in particular those committed on grounds of ethnicity, to see that the perpetrators of such violations are brought to justice, and to allow for the safe and dignified return of the internally displaced persons to their ancestral lands“.

MEP Markéta Gregorová: Political actors in Georgia should come to one table and come to an agreement

The April 19 Agreement and political developments in Georgia were topics of the Europe Time interview with MEP Markéta Gregorová (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance). She encouraged political actors to come to one table (Georgian Dream, UNM, and all the others) and come to an agreement: Markéta Gregorová: Honestly, even with Charles Michel being in Batumi before the Georgian Dream decision and giving all this time to a relationship between Georgia and the EU, this kinda seems like a beat in the face of the EU. Because this is considered to be an EU-mediated agreement, simply annulling it shows what Georgian Dream thinks of the relationship with the EU. And it is very disappointing. Of course, there are several possibilities, and microfinance assistance is the obvious one. However, of course, this is something that is done in the standard legislative procedure of the EU. So, it is not something we can do immediately now. It is something we can say that will happen and then when the legislative procedure is going, we can somehow update it based on the current events. Of course, this is also something to discuss among the commission and the council. The problem of complication here is that most of the employees and people from the council and commission are on holiday because the EU institutions are on holiday during August. So, that complicates a swifter reaction. We are going to get in contact with them and see what can be done, but as far as I can see, the atmosphere around the EU institutions is quite different. I feel like this has taken the attention of all of us, and this will definitely have a strong reaction from the EU. _Your colleagues call on Georgian Dream to return to the April 19 agreement, but they are not going to change their decision. In that case, there needs to be an answer from the EU. We cannot be just a tool that is being used when it's convenient. We can be partners, but it is not something that can be used. Of course, if they change their decision, this will be very helpful to the situation, but I do not have any indications that this is going to happen, but that does not mean that I do not wish it. _What would be your advice to the political actors in Georgia? The disagreement between the Georgian Dream and UNM is creating more problems and more divisions and I think they should overcome this division because it is not about them, it is about the country and their citizens and they should come to one table (Georgian Dream, UNM and all the others) and come to an agreement. So, it is helping the country to really stabilize because we did not even like live pandemic situations and problems yet and there are already other problems about the existence of a democratic system and that is very disappointing. Georgia has a plan to apply for EU membership by 2024. We also remember statements that Georgia is farther from the EU than it was 3 months ago. In this regard, how do you view these perspectives? It might seem so, but I do not think that something has changed in how governments and political actors think about the European Union and Europe. So, maybe this will be hard to say, but the fact that the government put it on paper and they have the ambition to ask for accession to the European Union in 2024, I think it has been just on paper from the beginning and it has never been on their mind. Maybe I am not right and I will be happy not to be correct, but so far it seems like that. It is on the paper, but it is not on their actions. Of course, till 2024 is three years. So, there can be all of these developments. We have seen that developments have been just a couple of months ago. But the politics would need to change greatly for the EU to believe the Georgian government. They want to honestly join the European Union. _Will you try to synchronize the decisions with the United States? As I have seen their statements what they think, the US is more disappointed with the developments and exasperated, to be honest. Yes, the talks between the EU institutions and the US are going, but of course, I cannot tell right now what will be the outcome because they do not know the outcome themselves yet. But as for cooperation, we want to help to solve the situation, but we also realize that this is something that we cannot force Georgia to do if the government does not wish so. So, there needs to be bilateral or trilateral will to change the situation.

MEP Andrius Kubilius: I hope all sides in Georgia understand that increased tension puts the country’s future and progress of European reforms at stake

I hope all sides in Georgia understand that increased tension puts the country’s future and progress of European reforms at stake - said Co-President of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly Andrius Kubilius in a comment with the Europetime. „GD is loosing international trust and, unfortunately, the same is happening with Georgia. The withdrawal of the ruling party from the hard-won April 19 agreement is sending a bad signal. I do not see how this step helps diminish polarisation and ensure political dialogue. International partners are willing to help Georgia on her European reforms path, and the EU has demonstrated that in the personal leadership of Charles Michel, the President of the European Council. The April 19 agreement provided a good basis for that in preparation for the elections. Now there is a void. I hope all sides understand that increased tension puts the country’s future and progress of European reforms at stake and will find a way to overcome the disagreements“, - said Andrius Kubilius. MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel: I am afraid, after Georgian Dream's decision to "annul" the April 19th agreement, Georgia is farther from the EU than it was 3 months ago Exclusive: James Appathurai: The decision by Georgian Dream to withdraw from the April 19 Agreement is deeply regrettable Exclusive: Diego Colas: After July 5, the issues on which I focus most of my attention are freedom of the press and the security of journalists, protection of minorities, judicial reform US Embassy: The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by Georgian Dream`s withdrawal from the April 19 Agreement

MEP Viola von Cramon-Taubadel: I am afraid, after Georgian Dream's decision to "annul" the April 19th agreement, Georgia is farther from the EU than it was 3 months ago

`I am afraid, after Georgian Dream's decision to "annul" the April 19th agreement, Georgia is farther from the EU than it was 3 months ago`, - Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, Member of the European Parliament, Lead member for Georgia at the European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) said at a news conference. According to her, it does not happen for the first time when the Georgian Dream does not fulfill its promise. `First of all, I want to start by expressing my support to you, Georgian Media, and especially to those 53 journalists who were brutally attacked by violent groups on July 5th. Georgian Dream's statements that failed to properly condemn the impunity or even emboldened the perpetrators are a very dangerous sign of backsliding democracy. Protecting Media, even one as polarized as it is in Georgia, is a fundamental EU value. Other EU values are embodied in its motto "United in Diversity". Diversity means protecting everyone and everything - culture, traditions, religion but also minorities. With all its diversity and regard to the fundamental values of all human beings, Georgia is welcome and respected in the EU. I am afraid, after Georgian Dream's decision to "annul" the April 19th agreement, Georgia is farther from the EU than it was 3 months ago As a lead Member of the European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) for Georgia, I was tasked with leading a high-level mission to support dialogue between Georgian political parties and share European experience. After our full-scale mission in July was canceled due to a very high number of COVID-19 cases, I decided to hold the meetings at the Georgian Parliament without other members of our delegation. Right at this moment, the Georgian Dream made unexpected and, in my opinion, the harmful decision for Georgian interests and withdrew from the agreement. This is in the end why I decided to cancel my meetings at the Georgian Parliament. The April 19th agreement was and is a fundament for the European Parliament's democracy support activities with the Georgian Parliament. This is not the first time the Georgian Dream breaks its promise. "Annulling" the agreement irreparably breaches trust and renders the Georgian Dream unreliable. The excuses for "annulling" the agreement are unpersuasive and unserious. Georgian dream did not fulfill its obligations – appointment of judges without "ambitious judicial reform" is a good demonstration of that. This regrettable decision did not benefit Georgia, its people, its international friends. Georgian Dream's decision benefited the Kremlin. It is clear that we cannot go back to "business as usual". The EU will need to reconsider its relations with the Georgian Government. It is also true that UNM's unconstructive actions and refusal to sign the Agreement gave Georgian Dream a convenient pretext. The people of Georgia deserve better, they deserve politicians who put the country's interests above everything else. Hereby, I commend all opposition parties that stay committed to the agreement and to the obligations they have taken. Lastly, in this context, the upcoming local elections have become even more significant. The EU stands with the People of Georgia in their struggle for a just and democratic state. This is why every Georgian need to exercise their constitutional rights and vote in the local elections. The EU will do everything possible to makes sure that our observers are on the ground and contribute to the transparent elections“, - said Viola von Cramon Taubadel. Exclusive: James Appathurai: The decision by Georgian Dream to withdraw from the April 19 Agreement is deeply regrettable Exclusive: Diego Colas: After July 5, the issues on which I focus most of my attention are freedom of the press and the security of journalists, protection of minorities, judicial reform MEP Andrius Kubilius: I hope all sides in Georgia understand that increased tension puts the country’s future and progress of European reforms at stake US Embassy: The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by Georgian Dream`s withdrawal from the April 19 Agreement

Diego Colas: After July 5, the issues on which I focus most of my attention are freedom of the press and the security of journalists, protection of minorities, and judicial reform

"I agree with Charles Michel that upholding the content of the April 19 agreement, in particular in-depth judicial and electoral reforms, offers the best way to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law in Georgia,"- Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Georgia, Diego Colas, said in a comment with Europe Time. „I am not very interested in speculating on the result of the next local election, or in discussing what should be the consequences of this or that score in these elections. I agree with Charles Michel that upholding the content of the April 19 agreement, in particular in-depth judicial and electoral reforms, offers the best way to strengthen democratic institutions and the rule of law in Georgia. After July 5, the issues on which I focus most of my attention are freedom of the press and the security of journalists, protection of minorities against violence and intimidation, extremist groups undermining Georgia’s democratic public order, judicial reform. These are the issues where I hope to see strong signs of commitment to European and Western values from everyone, starting with the authorities", - Diego Colas said. US Embassy: The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by Georgian Dream`s withdrawal from the April 19 Agreement

James Appathurai: The decision by Georgian Dream to withdraw from the April 19 Agreement is deeply regrettable

„The decision by Georgian Dream to withdraw from the April 19 Agreement is deeply regrettable, - said in a comment to Europetime James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. „The April 19 Agreement sets out the best way forward for reforms that will benefit Georgia, and help Georgia advance on its Euro-Atlantic path; this is why Georgia had included implementation of the Agreement in its Annual National Programme, which helps to prepare Georgia for eventual NATO membership. All parties, including the United National Movement, should commit to, and support the implementation of the reforms necessary to achieve Georgia’s democratic goals“, - Said James Appathurai.

US Embassy: The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by Georgian Dream`s withdrawal from the April 19 Agreement

The US Embassy in Georgia has responded to the ruling party’s exit from the EU-mediated agreement and stated that The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by the unilateral decision of the Georgian Dream party to withdraw from the April 19th Agreement. The US Embassy also stated that ‘Washington is growing increasingly alarmed about repeated setbacks to Georgia’s democratic future“. The US embassy in Georgia called on all political parties to work together and fulfil the commitments on which they agreed. „The United States is deeply disturbed and exasperated by the unilateral decision of the Georgian Dream party to withdraw from the April 19th Agreement, a document established through six months of difficult but collaborative negotiations, and one that gives an urgently needed way forward for the Georgian people and their democracy. One hundred fifteen MPs from at least six of nine elected parties signed the Agreement and pledged to work together in good faith to reduce the deep polarization that is impeding Georgia’s democratic progress. Washington is growing increasingly alarmed about repeated setbacks to Georgia’s democratic future. All of the signatories should be held accountable for their commitments in the Agreement. While we continue to press for all parties to sign and fully implement the agreement, Georgian Dream’s unilateral withdrawal is another deviation from the letter and spirit of the negotiations Georgian Dream participated in and the agreement they signed. This decision by the ruling party only creates more political instability for the country and raises questions about Georgian Dream’s commitment to achieving Georgia’s democratic goals, goals that Georgian Dream itself set for the country. Georgia’s interests will be best served if the concrete judicial, constitutional, and electoral reform elements reached in the Agreement are implemented by multiparty consensus, rather than by unilateral action of one party. Timely progress in implementing these reforms is the most responsible way to end Georgia’s cycle of political crises and remains critical to meeting Georgia's goals for its Euro-Atlantic future. Actions that create instability and divisiveness only benefit those trying to undermine Georgia’s success as a stable, prosperous democracy. The Agreement lays out a useful roadmap for important reforms that are needed to strengthen Georgia’s democratic institutions, reduce politicization of the judiciary, improve Georgia’s electoral system and power-sharing in the Parliament, and continue efforts to strengthen the rule of law. These reforms are still urgently needed and should be adopted through an inclusive, multiparty process. We call on all parties, including Georgian Dream, to work together to fulfill in good faith the commitments they agreed to and that are vital to Georgia’s timely integration into the European family of nations“.

Tomasz Kijewski: I think it is a great time to speed up Georgia’s European integration process

Batumi Conference and trio countries' European path were topics of the Europe Time interview with Tomasz Kijewski, president of the Warsaw Institute. Tomasz Kijewski graduated from international relations at the University of Lodz (scholarship at the Center for Transatlantic Studies in Maastricht, the Netherlands) and post-graduate studies at the National Defense University in Warsaw. Graduate of the national security study program (PASS) at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies (Garmisch-Partenkirchen / Washington DC). He completed a course at the International Energy Agency in Paris and was an International Visiting Advisor on Energy in Calgary. For many years, he served as a diplomat, actively promoting Polish interests in North America. The areas of Tomasz’s expertise include hybrid warfare and asymmetric conflicts, counter-terrorism, and energy security. He is currently preparing his doctoral dissertation (Ph.D.). _What are your expectations from the Batumi conference? We would like to have a deeper understanding of the Georgian Foreign Policy and how Georgia can move faster towards EU integration and strengthen cooperation with European and Western partners. I think it is a very important question right now. Despite the fact that Georgia is on its way to European integration, there are a lot of challenges. _What are the main challenges? The main challenges are always connected with internal policy and the ability to accommodate this path for integration. So, economic development and international cooperation are also key issues. We should focus on building stronger cooperation. This is what we have to do. Not so much on external actors, but strengthening cooperation within institutions, within countries, between Georgia and European Union countries and other western countries. _How do you evaluate trio countries' ambitious goals? I think that the three countries are the most advanced countries of the eastern partnership on their way to European integration. So, I think this is an important time. We should speed up the process because different political changes can happen as we observe the European political landscape. This is a time we should use. We would like to have a deeper understanding of the Georgian Foreign Policy and how Georgia can move faster towards EU integration and more cooperation with European and western partners. I think it is a very important question right now. Despite the fact that Georgia is on its way to European integration, there are a lot of challenges. This is a time we should use. The talks and the process in Georgia are getting closer to the European structures that have been established a long time ago. I think it is a great time just to speed up the integration. It should be done in cooperation between Georgia and the European Union. At the same time, in my opinion, the European Union and other western countries should be flexible when it comes to respecting cultural differences in countries like Georgia, in countries like Poland, and others. The standard of democratization is very important and it should be respected, but I think we can not force countries like Georgia to just make one model of democracy in this sense. So, I think the differences in cultural and political approaches should be preserved and should not be an obstacle to integrating into European structures.

U.S. Embassy statement on the death of journalist Lekso Lashkarava

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi extends our deepest condolences to the family of Lekso Lashkarava, particularly to Lekso’s mother, and to his colleagues at TV Pirveli and all those who are shocked and saddened by his death. Lekso worked behind the camera so despite his years of service as a media professional, many might not have recognized him before he was viciously attacked by people who demonstrated a complete lack of respect for human life. His bravery as he defended his colleague and his commitment to the fundamental freedoms long cherished in this country represent the best qualities and traditions of the people of Georgia. The arrest of several individuals in connection with the attack on Lekso is a positive first step toward justice. The safety of every Georgian journalist and the credibility of democracy in Georgia require that every individual who attacked peaceful citizens and journalists on July 5 and 6, or who incited violence, must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. We call for calm and an end to the violence that has already caused one tragic loss of life.

Luis Navarro: The freedoms of assembly, speech, and press, and their application to all citizens are among the essential foundations of true democracies

The freedoms of assembly, speech, and press, and their application to all citizens are among the essential foundations of true democracies said Eurasian Program Fellow for the Foreign Policy Research Institute, Luis Navarro in a comment with Europetime. `The freedoms of assembly, speech, and press, and their application to all citizens are among the essential foundations of true democracies. In its statements and actions, the government has repeatedly, since it has been in power, made clear that if the LGBTQ community, and any allied with its exercise of these rights, do so at their own risk. Now that appears to apply to those who have the right to observe the exercise of these rights, as well. This stands in stark contrast to events like the xenophobic Georgian March in 2017, which also involved priests, and the government shrugged off as the price of freedom. The failure of this government to provide the level of security necessary to meet the violence promulgated by those the Orthodox Church claims not to condone is inexcusable. This failure is not only worse than May 17th, 2013, but it also reflects the failure to deter the mob violence organized by Levan Vasadze in 2019 and threatened in advance of yesterday. Given the government security forces used in the club raids of 2018, the anti-Putin protests in 2019, and even the arrest of Nika Melia earlier this year, it is clear that the government views the human rights of its citizens as conditional to their political views. All of this undermines the government’s claim to support European integration, rather than the anti-Democratic, pro-Russian narratives of those like Viktor Orban`, - said Luis Navarro Tbilisi Pride canceled amid violent protests. LGBT activists in Georgia have canceled a gay rights event after their office was stormed by far-right protesters. Journalists and activists were also attacked ahead of the planned march in the capital Tbilisi.

James Appathurai: I strongly condemn the violence which took place this week. I found these events deeply disappointing and a setback for Georgia

`I strongly condemn the violence which took place this week. I found these events deeply disappointing and a setback for Georgia`, - said in a comment to Europetime James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Security Policy and the NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia. "I strongly condemn the violence which took place this week, which was directly contradictory to NATO norms and values, including the right to assembly, the rights of minorities, and respect for the media. I have worked for many years to support Georgia’s reforms and its progress towards Euro-Atlantic integration; I found these events deeply disappointing and a setback for Georgia“. Tbilisi Pride canceled amid violent protests. LGBT activists in Georgia have canceled a gay rights event after their office was stormed by far-right protesters. Journalists and activists were also attacked ahead of the planned march in the capital Tbilisi.

Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia: Further electoral reform is in the main direction that Georgia needs to undertake

The appointment of Supreme Court judges and the electoral reform were the topic of the Europetime interview with Natalia Voutova, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia. With 25 years of experience working for the Council of Europe and OSCE, she has focused on human rights and legal reforms projects in Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. Natalia Voutova also worked for Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) in Chechnya. She was the Head of the Office to Yerevan (2015-2020), Deputy Head of the CoE Office in Ukraine between 2007 and 2009, and before that the Special Representative of the CoE Secretary-General to Armenia (2002-2004). _Supporting the Criminal Justice Reforms - Tackling Criminal Aspects of the Judicial Reforms in Georgia` project runs from 1 January 2019 until 31 December 2021, what challenges highlighted the project and what was the main progress? This project aims at supporting the Georgian stakeholders in the reforms of the criminal procedure and strengthening the capacity of national courts to effectively exercise judicial control over the application of coercive measures by the prosecution and law enforcement agencies. Moreover, the Project works towards the improvement of analytical and methodological capacities of the justice sector stakeholders to assess the criminal justice’s performance and develop evidence-based criminal policy. In addition, the Project assists in improving international cooperation in criminal matters. Despite the capacity building conducted with the legal professionals, the general picture of the application of preventive measures remains unchanged. According to the statistics published on the website of the Supreme Court of Georgia, the percentage breakdown of the types of preventive measures applied in 2019 and in 2020 is almost identical. In particular, bail and detention are the types of preventive measures that are mainly applied, other measures are as a rule rarely used. In order to identify and take stock of the shortcomings in the criminal procedure legislation, a group of international experts under the auspices of the Council of Europe prepared an opinion proposing further improvement of the procedural legislation. In 2019, the Venice Commission assessed positively the initiative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for reforming the Criminal Procedure Code in respect of separation of powers between prosecutors and investigators. However, there have been delays in the process. As reported by a number of NGOs, the current legal framework creates risks for ineffective investigative and prosecutorial activities. We hope the work in this regard will restart soon. _The Council of Europe is the continent's leading human rights organization. It includes 47 member states 27 of which are members of the European Union. All Council of Europe member states signed up to the European Convention on Human Rights, a treaty designed to protect human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. How would you assess the steps taken by Georgia as a member to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law? For example, in general, Democracy is in distress, finds the Council of Europe Secretary General’s annual report for 2021. Let me start from the end of this question, democracy is indeed in distress, but this is a global phenomenon and is a separate question altogether. Georgia is part of Europe and a member state of the Council of Europe; this means that we as partners stand together with the Georgian political parties, civil society, and the public at large to overcome these challenges. Compromises are possible and the challenge to democracy can be overcome when we all work together. As regards human rights, in recent years, one of the most positive steps towards improving the human rights framework was the adoption of the anti-discrimination law (the Law of Georgia on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination) in 2014. I should also mention the steps taken by Georgia to improve the conditions of detention in prison and inmates’ access to health care. The country also reduced the high prison population. However, further work needs to be done in this regard. In 2015 the country adopted a Juvenile Justice Code is tailoring the criminal justice system accordingly and introducing higher standards for juveniles in conflict with the law. The adoption of the Code of the Rights of the Child in 2019 and ratification of the Istanbul Convention in 2017 alongside a number of reforms for preventing and combating domestic violence in Georgia should be mentioned as well, although much remains to be done. There are two areas that constitute the foundation for democracy – the electoral and judicial systems. Electoral reform is an area that has been reformed for years. The last year’s constitutional reform, reducing the share of majoritarian MPs in the parliament, and reducing the electoral threshold to 1% was a step forward. _The Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR issued their urgent joint opinion on the draft amendments to the Electoral Code of Georgia. The document also points to a number of progress and recommendations, including the appointment of Supreme Court judges. What progress and shortcomings can we talk about based on these and other documents and how do you view the recommendations implemented by Georgia in this regard? Regarding the amendments to the Electoral Code, as you may know, the Venice Commission and the OSCE/ODIHR have received a new request following the signature of the EU-brokered agreement. We encourage the authorities to ensure that the forthcoming recommendations are duly taken into account. As regards the Supreme Court appointments, indeed, the Venice Commission opined on the Supreme Court-related legislation several times, starting from 2019. In this process, the legislation in Georgia did go through a number of positive changes, in line with the Venice Commission recommendations. The conflict-of-interest rules have been introduced, transparency of the selection and appointment of judicial candidates has been increased and the possibility of appeal has been reflected. Yet, as the most recent, April 2021 Venice Commission Opinion points out “[..] there are a number of outstanding recommendations that should be reconsidered”, mostly on the appeal procedure and the equality of candidates. _What is the main / priority reform that the member state, in this case, Georgia, should provide priority under the commitments of the Council of Europe? Further electoral reform is in the main direction that Georgia needs to undertake. Furthermore, implementation of the fourth wave of judicial reforms and in general upholding the highest standards of ethics and integrity in the judiciary will remain essential throughout 2021 and beyond. It will be important that the selection procedure for Supreme Court judges is brought into line with European standards as soon as possible. Further reform of the High Council of Justice will remain a priority.

Ben Hodges: Georgia’s future depends on its development as the portal between Europe and Eurasia

Georgia’s future depends on its development as the portal between Europe and Eurasia. Europetime spoke to Former commander of the United States Army Europe, Lieutenant General and the Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), Ben Hodges. According to him, Building ports and other infrastructures such as this terminal are key components of that effort. As it grows, then more Western businesses will move there to build capacity for transit/trade which will lead to their governments taking a much greater interest in security in and around Georgia; and they’ll begin to question why Russian forces are still occupying 20% of Georgia. But Georgia must do all it can to make itself as attractive as possible to foreign investment. Transparency, judicial processes, and reliable labor/power/transportation networks are all part of this. _Dear General, it would be interesting to start the interview with the current developments in the region. In your previous interviews, the leitmotif was that the West should be more actively involved in the ongoing processes in the region and should take clearer steps to demonstrate its position and positioning in the region. A few weeks ago, a US delegation of Senators visited Georgia shortly followed by the official visit of Acting Assistant Secretary of State Philip Reeker, who also paid a visit to Azerbaijan and Armenia as part of the tour. Soon afterwards, the role of Georgia as a mediator was outlined and the country received thanks from Armenia and Azerbaijan… How would you assess these visits, can we consider it as a statement that America is back to the region? These are all positive steps, manifestations of appreciation for the strategic importance of Georgia in the greater Black Sea region and the South Caucasus. But we’ve got to sustain this; it can’t be episodic. I’m especially proud of the American diplomats serving in Georgia now, they are tireless in their efforts and I’m glad to see senior administration / Department of State officials supporting them as well as the support of our Congress. _How would you assess the recent Summit of NATO Leaders that President Biden has also attended? Were there more expectations from this summit, especially with regard to Georgia and Ukraine? It was a good summit… It is important that President Biden removed all doubt about America’s commitment to NATO and to security and stability in Europe. I also thought the new strategic concept, NATO-2030, is good and I’m pleased the alliance will formally accept it at next year’s summit in Madrid. But I was disappointed in the lack of strong, clear language about future membership for Georgia and Ukraine, and about a lack of a clear definition of the strategic importance of the greater Black Sea region. I worry that Ukraine specifically and the Black Sea, in general, is going to endure a long, hot summer, and the reluctance by the West to demonstrate that we care about the region only encourages Kremlin aggression. I was very proud of the performance of HMS DEFENDER last week! That is exactly the sort of step that must be taken to challenge the Kremlin’s illegitimate claims to Crimea. I hope that NATO leaders, including my own president, will show as much resolve as the Commander and crew of HMS DEFENDER. _What effective steps should NATO take to increase stability in the Black Sea and the Balkans taking into consideration the growing Russian threat? Designate it as a strategically important region, further develop graduated response plans and apportion resources to carry out such plans, and improve intelligence sharing with partners as well as allies in the greater Black Sea region. We’ve also got to fix the relationships with Turkey, a long-time reliable ally, but the relationship is not in a good place right now. The USA should take steps to reach out to Ankara and get this fixed. We need to think long-term on this. _NATO troops are leaving Afghanistan by September, at the same time there is a growing argument that the Afghan population could find themselves in a rather dangerous situation. Do you think the Afghan security forces are ready to ensure peace and will this decision lead to an increase of the role of uncontrolled forces and, consequently, Russia’s role in Central Asian countries? Afghan security forces should be able to do this. They’ve benefited from almost two decades of investment, support, and training by ISAF Forces. But the Afghan Government and people need to decide for themselves what they are going to do and what sort of nation they want to be. _You have often mentioned that large infrastructure projects, ports, terminals, railways, and more Western investors are one of the most important ways for Georgia’s integration into the West. A Mineral Fertilizer Terminal has been opened in the port of Batumi recently that was built with direct American investment and the construction of which was strongly protested by pro-Russian forces. Their protest is also clear - Georgia's role on the transit map is growing since this road connects Central Asia to Europe. What can we say about this project and the protest that constantly accompanies such important projects, Anaklia is the biggest example of this. Georgia’s future depends on its development as the portal between Europe and Eurasia. Building ports and other infrastructures such as this terminal are key components of that effort. As it grows, then more Western businesses will move there to build capacity for transit/trade which will lead to their governments taking a much greater interest in security in and around Georgia; and they’ll begin to question why Russian forces are still occupying 20% of Georgia. But Georgia must do all it can to make itself as attractive as possible to foreign investment. Transparency, judicial processes, and reliable labor/power/transportation networks are all part of this. _And the last question, how do you look at and how do you see the current internal processes in Georgia from a distance? Especially perceived by friends, allies, and fans, whether the path the country has taken will lead to a goal, i.e. Euro-Atlantic integration, which in turn requires work and effective steps beyond the declared statements. I believe that Georgia is back on track, though there’s much to be done; but all of Georgia’s friends are ready to help. I’m hoping to be in Georgia this fall, it’s been too long since we could meet and reinforce the effort of each other for a Georgia where young people can achieve their fullest potential.

Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia: Georgia and NATO are doing so many things together. All these joint efforts move Georgia forward towards NATO membership

Georgia and NATO are doing so many things together. All these joint efforts move Georgia forward towards NATO membership. Said Dr. Rosaria Puglisi, Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia in an exclusive interview with Europetime. The NATO summit and other issues were the topics of the Europetime interview with Dr. Rosaria Puglisi. _Can you explain the importance of the 14 June NATO Summit? What are the main takeaways for Georgia and what does it mean that so much attention in the Summit Communique was devoted to Russia? With this Summit, NATO has opened a new chapter. All leaders around the table have said loud and clear that Europe and North America must stand strong together in NATO. This is a powerful message after a complicated period, an indication that the Alliance remains a prime place for transatlantic political dialogue. Reinstating our unity and mutual commitment is especially important at a time when authoritarian regimes, like Russia and China, challenge the rules-based order. It goes without saying that a strong NATO is important for Georgia too. The Summit Communique has very strong language on Russia. It highlights the risks it poses to the Alliance and its partners as a consequence of its continued breach of the values and the commitments that underpin the Russia-NATO relationship. Until Russia demonstrates compliance with international law and its obligations, there is no going back to business as usual–NATO leaders have stressed. With this determination goes also NATO’s reiterated support for Georgia's territorial integrity and the repeated call for Russia to reverse its recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to end the militarization of these regions and attempts to separate them from the rest of Georgia, and to cease human rights violations, arbitrary detentions, and harassments of Georgian citizens. At the Summit, the Secretary-General repeated in no ambiguous terms that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance and that it has all the practical tools to prepare for eventual membership. With 16 ongoing initiatives and all Allies plus partners, Finland and Sweden involved, the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP), for example, is one of those tools. The SNGP is a unique program, a flagship of NATO’s capacity-building support to partners. Through it, NATO and Georgia are working together side by side, on a daily basis to consolidate Georgia's capabilities and prepare the country for its goal of becoming a member of the Alliance. _Providing correct information about NATO is sometimes an issue in a country like Georgia, regularly exposed to deliberate disinformation campaigns also from its northern neighbor. People need to know what we are doing, you said during the meeting organized by the Defense and Security Committee of the Parliament of Georgia in March. What should be done to counter the challenges and threats stemming from disinformation? How to keep strong popular support for NATO membership among the Georgian public? Keeping strong popular support for NATO and countering disinformation on NATO and Georgia's membership perspectives are, in my view, two different things. NATO support ratings in Georgia are very high. In the four years, I have been in this country, I have never seen popular approval for NATO membership go below 68%. The real question is rather what people know about the Alliance and about all the work that NATO and Georgia are doing together to prepare Georgia for membership. Before the Covid pandemics, I used to meet a lot of people, students, teachers, business people, local authorities representatives, in Tbilisi and in the regions. What I always found striking is how little people are informed about all that is going on with NATO. The less people know, the more likely they are to buy the disinformation arguments that nothing is going on, that the alliance is neglecting Georgia, and that Georgia will never become a member. Here you, as a journalist, and I and my fellow Georgian colleagues, as foreign policy practitioners, have a shared responsibility. We have to make sure that information on these crucial processes circulates. Disinformation can be countered only with information. I do not mean propaganda, but information. Georgia and NATO are doing so many things together: from helping build the capacity of the Georgian Coast Guard, to the exchange of information on the security situation in the Black Sea, from establishing a common knowledge of security and defense issues across different Georgianinstitutions to training the Georgian Defence Forces to full NATO standards. All these joint efforts move Georgia forward towards NATO membership. More importantly, however, they make the country better able to defend itself, to protect its territory and its people. In one word, these joint efforts make Georgia more resilient. _We know, that one of the fundamental criteria for alliance membership is the strength of democratic institutions. What do you think, how does NATO assess the quality of these institutions? A: The effective functioning of democratic institutions is indeed one of the distinctive treats of resilience. A country with functional and accountable institutions is better able to withstand hybrid attacks and to protect its people and territory at a time of peace, crisis or conflict. This rule applies not only to Georgia but to all countries in general. It is not surprising, then, that at the Summit, the Alliance reiterated that it stands strong in support of Georgia’s ongoing democratic reforms. Particularly, it welcomed the recent political agreement on the Way Ahead for Georgia and encouraged all parties to stay focused on its implementation. These important reforms, NATO leaders believe, will help Georgia, an aspirant country, to progress in its preparation for membership. Exclusive: NATO welcomes Georgian cross-party declaration ahead of the summit Exclusive: James Appathurai: NATO and Georgia also sharing situational awareness in the Black Sea to ensure that the Black Sea remains a source of stability and security, for NATO Allies and partners

Georgia should take note Biden`s caveat on Ukraine’s NATO membership - Luis Navaro

NATO reiterated its support for Georgian sovereignty, as well as called out Russia’s occupation and actions against Georgia’s citizens. It is also noteworthy, in an apparent response to Pres Zelensky’s demand for a yes or no answer on Ukraine’s membership, that Pres Biden responded to a reporter, “It depends on whether they meet the criteria”. I think the context for this is a function of several challenges, including, Ukraine’s inconsistent effort to address official corruption and the internal backsliding of NATO member nations, such as Poland and Hungary. Georgia should take note of this caveat, and its application to the failures of the government to depart from the nation’s history of prioritizing partisan self-interest in its law enforcement, judicial appointments, and election administration; its antagonistic approach to dissent from the media and civil society; and reliance upon an unelected oligarch over popular will, in its governance. The Georgian opposition, particularly UNM, cannot be in the thrall of a convicted non-citizen, demand European intervention in resolving a political crisis, it helped foment by denying an internationally observed/affirmed election, and then flout European mediation efforts, and expect to be viewed as a constructive alternative. NATO membership will not solve these issues, and it falls to the political class, to work towards achieving the democratic conditions that will both serve its citizens best and facilitate NATO membership“, - Said Luis Navaro.

French Ambassador: The ambitious partnership between NATO and Georgia strongly reaffirmed

The NATO summit was the topic of the Europetime comment with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Georgia Diego Colas. „The NATO summit that just took place was a very important and successful meeting. It was a powerful and useful reminder of what NATO is and of what it does. Among the many important statements and decisions that took place during the Summit, it is right that there was a strong reaffirmation of the ambitious partnership between NATO and Georgia. The important thing now is to implement the many dimensions of this ambitious partnership. This will make Georgia and NATO stronger, and it will effectively bring Europe and Georgia closer together“, - said Diego Colas. Exclusive: NATO welcomes Georgian cross-party declaration ahead of the summit Brussels Summit Communiqué Ambassador Hubert Knirsch: The open-door policy was reconfirmed, explicitly with regard to Georgia Exclusive: French Ambassador: If you ask me about the necessity of a strong Western presence in South Caucasus, I emphatically reply yes

MEP Marina Kaljurand: Georgia contributes to Europe’s and to the world’s collective security

The NATO summit was the topic of the Europetime comment with the Chair of the delegation to the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee Marina Kaljurand. „The fact that on June 11th, ahead of the summit, all Georgian political parties sitting in Parliament co-signed a joint statement supporting Georgia’s NATO integration, proves, once again, that NATO membership (just like EU membership) is consensual across party lines, which is very positive in itself. Georgia contributes to Europe’s and to the world’s collective security by its substantial contributions to the Alliance’s operations (for example, Georgia is the 4th largest contributor to NATO's Resolute Support Mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces. Georgia also contributes actively to NATO’s political-military assessment of the Black Sea region). Therefore, comes as no surprise that NATO reiterated in its Communiqué the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the MAP as an integral part of the process. The 19 April agreement opens the way for a de-polarisation of the political landscape and a strengthening of democracy and the rule of law, which will allow Georgia to prepare itself in the right conditions for NATO membership“. Marina Kaljurand is an Estonian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs (2015-2016), Earlier, she served as the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States (2011–2014), and in Russia (2007-2011). Brussels Summit Communiqué Exclusive: NATO welcomes Georgian cross-party declaration ahead of the summit Exclusive: Ambassador Hubert Knirsch: The open-door policy was reconfirmed, explicitly with regard to Georgia Exclusive: French Ambassador: The ambitious partnership between NATO and Georgia strongly reaffirmed Exclusive: MEP Marina Kaljurand: My message is not given up your dream to become a member of the EU and NATO