EU-Georgia Cooperation Council Meeting

Progress in democracy, rule of law and human rights is an important condition for the deepening of EU-Georgia cooperation, EU said after a meeting of EU-Georgia Cooperation Council on October 26.

The meeting in Brussels, which was chaired by Georgian Foreign Minister Grigol Vashadze, was tenth in frames of EU-Georgia Cooperation Council. Vice-Premier and State Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Giorgi Baramidze, was also representing the Georgian side. EU delegation was led by Carl Bildt, Swedish Foreign Minister, whose country holds the EU presidency; Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy; Juan José Rubio de Urquia, Deputy Director General for Eastern European Affairs, who represented the incoming Spanish Presidency and Peter Semneby, the EU special envoy for South Caucasus, participated in the meeting.

In a press release issued after the meeting, the Council of the European Union said the meeting provided “a timely opportunity to take stock of political developments in Georgia, as well as the advancement of political and economic reforms, in particular ‘the second wave of democratic reforms’ announced in September 2008 by President Saakashvili.”

“The EU underlined the importance of sufficient progress in democracy, rule of law and human rights, which belong to important conditions for the deepening of bilateral cooperation between the EU and Georgia within the framework of the Eastern Partnership,” it said.

“The EU further stressed that fundamental freedoms, as well as freedom of expression and freedom of the media are essential elements in the bilateral dialogue with Georgia. It reaffirmed its willingness to continue its support for the further development of democratic institutions in Georgia, including in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership.”

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, that during the meeting the Georgian delegation presented information on “the measures undertaken by the government of Georgia and the progress achieved” in democratic reforms.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting the Georgian Foreign Minister thanked the EU for its “ideas and suggestions” aimed at “increasing the quality of Georgia’s democracy,” and promised that Tbilisi will make “extensive” use of the bloc’s expertise in the field, RFE/RL reported.

EU said that the Cooperation Council also discussed “the increased EU role in the conflict settlement,” in particular through the continued presence on the ground of the EU Monitoring Mission, the EU’s role in the Geneva international discussions and the increased financial assistance pledged after the August war.

“The EU underlined its commitment to Georgia’s security and stability, based on full respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to a peaceful and lasting conflict resolution,” EU said.

“We are thankful to the European Union for its unwavering support for our territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty,” RFE/RL reported quoting Georgian Foreign Minister Vashadze said. “We drew the attention of our colleagues to the fact that Russia is fulfilling none of the obligations it voluntarily has undertaken under the August 12, 2008 [six-point ceasefire] agreement.

The Georgian Foreign Ministry said the statement that during the meeting the Georgian delegation reaffirmed its commitment to continue implementing reforms related with the conclusion of the deep and comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DC FTA) with EU.

“It stressed that the issues related to the DC FTA are coordinated at the level of the Prime-Minister. An Institutional framework has been already established and the capacity building of the relevant institutions is underway,” the Georgian Foreign Ministry said.

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