• ABOUT US
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Advertising
    • Subscription
  • CONTACT US
Georgia Today
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
No Result
View All Result
Georgia Today
No Result
View All Result

The EU & US’ Ongoing Intervention in Georgia’s Political Crisis

by Georgia Today
March 18, 2021
in Newspaper, Politics
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Image source: Imedinews.ge

Image source: Imedinews.ge

Everyone’s shared recommendation is that the Georgian political parties must find common ground, and work together in Parliament. – PM Irakli Garibashvili

The President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili on March 12 met with Christian Danielsson, Personal Representative of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel.

Danielsson had arrived in Georgia that morning to engage in a renewed political dialogue initiated by President Michel on March 1 with the leaders of all parties involved in the current political conflict.

“My mission is to help these political parties, to enable them to start a dialogue, and to make progress,” Danielsson said, noting that what is happening in Georgia is very concerning to the European Union.

“We believe that now is the time for the political parties, for the interested parties, to make every effort to find a way out of the current impasse, in the form of a compromise. I would like to emphasize that my role, as well as that of ambassadors Hartzell and Degnan, is to support this process. It is the job of the parties and their representatives to find a solution for themselves, with our help, and to get out of this situation, and, especially in the face of important issues like the pandemic and the economic consequences, to find a solution. This is a vision of moving towards unity,” Danielsson said.

During their Friday meeting, President Zurabishvili pointed out that the process in negotiations between the parties is moving in the right direction, although there are “attempts to bring tension.”

“Rhetoric needs to be eased and the process shifted to the negotiating table to find a solution,” she said.
Danielsson in reply noted that Georgia has always been an example of democracy and stability in the region, and this situation should not change that, as it is “in the national interests of the country.”

The meeting with the President was attended by the EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell and the Adviser to the President of the European Council, Magdalena Grono.

Christian Danielsson then began his work with the representatives of the opposition, resulting on the first day in a four-hour meeting with the United National Movement (UNM), European Georgia, Lelo for Georgia, Strategy Builder, as well as Girchi, and Girchi – More Freedom.

Salome Samadashvili, a member of the UNM, spoke to press before the meeting, stating that the fate of the talks “depends on the position of Georgian Dream today.”

Image source: PIA.ge
Image source: PIA.ge

Several leaders of the opposition parties held a short briefing for journalists afterwards, saying the meeting had been “intense and difficult.” They refrained from sharing further details while the sessions of the negotiation process are ongoing.

The opposition leaders emphasized that all the topics initiated before, especially the early elections and issue of political prisoners, were priorities in the discussion. Zurab Japaridze, the leader of Girchi – More Freedom, also mentioned that during these discussions, the tone of the ruling party, especially of Irakli Kobakhidze, was very different from their usual rhetoric.

Yet leader of the Labor Party, Shalva Natelashvili, left the March 17 meeting early.

On his way out, Natelashvili told journalists that the reason for his protest was the different perspectives on the meeting agenda and prioritization of the issues to be discussed.

“The Labor Party is leaving the negotiation process, in which setting the date for early elections, the issue of political prisoners, and the absence of the illegally detained Nika Melia, are not being discussed as priorities,” Natelashvili said.

He added that his party would join the sessions again only if the issues above have a clear resolution.

“I have said many times that building a house starts from the foundation and not from the roof. When we start discussing electoral, judicial reforms, other problems, or initially request the opposition MPs to enter Parliament, it means that the process is falling apart and that the Russian oligarch remains the master of the country and, therefore, it means that the opposition has failed to fulfill its mission for the Georgian people, for the present and future of the country,” Natelashvili said.

The same day, Georgian Dream MP Sozar Subari said that the opposition leaders were “much more constructive than before,” and that Georgian Dream is doing everything possible to maintain the strength of the state, and the fact that the party did not terminate the opposition mandates was also an example of the constructiveness of the leading party, with which behavior “they gave an opportunity for dialogue and negotiation.”

Danielsson extended his stay since no agreement between the government and the opposition has been reached in the ongoing EU-mediated negotiations.

“We will continue to work to go even further. All parties were very involved in the process. It depends on them to reach an agreement,” Danielsson reiterated.

By Team GT

Tags: DanielssonDegnanEUGaribashviliMichelOpposition
ShareShareTweet

Related Posts

Charles Michel: I reaffirmed to PM Garibashvili the EU’s commitment to Georgia
Highlights

Charles Michel: I reaffirmed to PM Garibashvili the EU’s commitment to Georgia

December 1, 2023
TEDx Vake: An Opportunity to Learn and Connect
Business & Economy

TEDx Vake: An Opportunity to Learn and Connect

December 1, 2023
Finnish border guard officers escort migrants upon arrival at the Raja-Jooseppi border crossing station to Russia in Inari, northern Finland, on November 25, 2023. (Photo by Emmi Korhonen / Lehtikuva / AFP)
Newspaper

Ukraine Latest: Kremlin Warns of Tensions if Poland Sends Troops to Finnish-Russian Border

November 30, 2023

Recommended

Georgian Foreign Minister Holds Farewell Meeting with French Ambassador to Georgia

Georgian Foreign Minister Holds Farewell Meeting with French Ambassador to Georgia

1 year ago
Natia Mezvrishvili on Dealing with 2 Political Giants

Natia Mezvrishvili on Dealing with 2 Political Giants

2 years ago
Giorgi Gakharia: We were Told We Were Capable of Nothing – It’s All a Lie and Ukraine is a Great Example of This

Giorgi Gakharia: We were Told We Were Capable of Nothing – It’s All a Lie and Ukraine is a Great Example of This

2 years ago
GT Interview with Giorgi Badridze

GT Interview with Giorgi Badridze

2 years ago
Russo-Ukrainian War and Georgia – Analysis from security expert Kakha Kemoklidze

Russo-Ukrainian War and Georgia – Analysis from security expert Kakha Kemoklidze

2 years ago

Navigation

  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • International
  • Where.ge
  • Newspaper
  • Magazine
  • GEO
  • OP-ED
  • About Us
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Advertising
    • Subscription
  • Contact

Highlights

Ukraine Latest: Kremlin Warns of Tensions if Poland Sends Troops to Finnish-Russian Border

I Clean Up Georgia – The Second Stage of Sadagi’s Simultaneous School Clean-up Series

Israel, Hamas reach deal to extend Gaza cease-fire for seventh day despite violence in Jerusalem, West Bank

COP28 Climate Summit Kicks Off in Dubai

CBS News: In Georgia, wine’s surprising birthplace, winemakers revive ancient grapes

Speaker: Romania’s support and solidarity holds immense significance for Georgia

Trending

No Content Available
  • Where.ge
  • Newspaper
  • GEO
  • Magazine
  • Old Website

2000-2023 © Georgia Today

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business & Economy
  • Social & Society
  • Sports
  • Culture
  • International
  • Where.ge
  • Newspaper
  • Magazine
  • GEO
  • OP-ED
  • About Us
    • History
    • Our Team
    • Advertising
    • Subscription
  • Contact

2000-2023 © Georgia Today