CoE Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić visits Georgia

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Marija Pejčinović Burić is on a working visit to Georgia. She has met Georgia’s President Salome Zurabishvili, the Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, the Foreign Minister, Ilia Darchiashvili, the Justice Minister, Rati Bregadze and the Public Defender, Levan Ioseliani.

During her visit, Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić visited the administrative border line, met with the Civil society representatives, and took part in the Tbilisi Women’s International Conference. She was invited by President Zurabishvili to be one of the speakers at the event.

Meeting with the President

On June 30, Marija Pejčinović Burić met with President Salome Zurabishvili. They discussed the European Council’s support for Georgia’s European integration process. Burić thanked Zurabishvili for the invitation to the International Women’s Conference and stressed the importance of women’s involvement in peace, security, and conflict resolution, according to the press release of the Presidents’ Administration.

Burić reiterated the Council of Europe’s strong support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Protection of the rights of people in occupied territories was highlighted, and the Council of Europe pledged to enforce decisions of the European Court of Human Rights regarding Russia.

The release reads that during the meeting Zurabishvili emphasized the need to clearly define Russia’s borders and resolve the issue of occupied territories during peace talks in Ukraine. She stated that Europe is the only path for Georgia and refusal to grant candidate status would disappoint the population and send a dangerous message to Russia. The Council of Europe supports Georgia’s European integration, emphasizing the importance of implementing the recommendations of the European Union and the Venice Commission.

Meeting with the Prime Minister

On July 1, Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), met with Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. The discussion focused on the significance of the European Council’s support for Georgia, according to the press release of the Government’s Administration. The government leader expressed gratitude to Maria Peičinović Burić for the Council of Europe’s efforts in facilitating democratic reforms in Georgia.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of granting candidate status to Georgia, highlighting the country’s progress in fulfilling the 12-point recommendations of the European Commission. The conversation also addressed the situation in the occupied territories, underscoring Georgia’s appreciation for the Council of Europe’s support in promoting a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the restoration of trust.

Meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament

On July 1, Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), met with Shalva Papuashvili, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia. Both parties highlighted the longstanding and fruitful cooperation between Georgia and the Council of Europe, according to the press release of the Parliament.

Papuashvili expressed gratitude to the Secretary General for the Council of Europe’s support in upholding Georgia’s territorial integrity and facilitating peaceful conflict resolution. He emphasized the significance of the Secretary General’s consolidated report titled “Conflict in Georgia.”

Papuashvili also discussed Georgia’s progress in implementing 12 recommendations from the European Union and acknowledged the Council of Europe’s vital contribution to Georgia’s democratic development.

According to the release, Pejčinović Burić emphasized the importance of her visit to Georgia, not only for official meetings but also for her visit to the occupation line, where she expressed the Council of Europe’s solidarity with the local population.

The Secretary General provided a positive assessment of Georgia’s efforts in aligning its legislation with European standards. She highlighted that several issues related to the 12 recommendations from the European Union fall within the CoE’s mandate and affirmed the CoE’s readiness to support Georgia’s path towards European Union membership.

Meeting with the Foreign Minister

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Ilia Darchiashvili, met the Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE), Marija Pejčinović Burić, who is visiting Georgia.

During the joint press conference, FM Darchiashvili emphasized the vital role of the CoE support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity In the peaceful resolution of the Russia-Georgia conflict.

According to MFA, sides emphasized the significance of the Council’s instruments and mechanisms in achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Georgia and confidence building between the communities split apart by the conflict. They specifically highlighted the Secretary General’s biannual consolidated reports on the “Conflict in Georgia,” which provide detailed accounts of the situation in the occupied regions of the country.

According to MFA, parties discussed the successful implementation of projects under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2020-2023. These projects were recognized for strengthening values such as human rights, the rule of law, and democracy in Georgia. Minister Darchiashvili expressed gratitude to Marija Burić for her support in Georgia’s democratic reform process and expressed readiness for future collaboration.

Meeting with the Justice Minister

Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić of the Council of Europe (CoE) held a meeting with Rati Bregadze, the Minister of Justice. According to the press release of the Ministry of Justice, the discussion highlighted Georgia’s advancements in protecting human rights and strengthening the rule of law, as evidenced by the conclusions and reports from CoE bodies.

The conversation specifically addressed successful reforms in the penitentiary system, leading to the eradication of torture and inhumane treatment in prisons. The release notes that during the meeting the Justice Minister stated that Georgia has implemented measures such as providing educational opportunities, comprehensive medical services, sports competitions, access to the House of Justice within penitentiary institutions, employment opportunities, and income generation for prisoners.

The legislative changes introduced in 2022 were positively assessed, as they enable Georgian courts to actively incorporate precedents from the Strasbourg Court, reads the release. This alignment brings Georgia’s justice system closer to the established standards of human rights protection outlined by the European Court. Additionally, emphasis was placed on the importance of enforcing Georgia’s successful interstate disputes against Russia, with the Secretary General affirming full support from the Council of Europe in this process.

Meeting with the Public Defender

On July 2, Levan Ioseliani, the Public Defender of Georgia, met with Marija Pejčinović Burić. During the meeting, the Council of Europe Secretary General and the Public Defender discussed the state of human rights protection in Georgia, with a particular emphasis on European integration and the implementation of the 12-point plan.

According to the press release of the Public Defender’s Office, the Ombudsman provided an overview of the office’s activities, ongoing projects, and shared details about the human rights strategy and action plan for the years 2023-2030.

The release states that the CoE Secretary General highlighted the vital role of an independent institution of the Public Defender, especially in times of current polarization. She expressed gratitude to the Public Defender for the successful collaboration in the field of human rights and expressed optimism for the continuation of such practices in the future.

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