NEWS

Saakashvili in Brussels: EU welcomes reform effort saying elections will be test case for Georgian democracy

28-06-2012

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili held talks with top European Commission officials in Brussels today, with both EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle welcoming recent reform achievements in Georgia.
 
A press release said Commissioner Füle acknowledged that Georgia had made remarkable progress in its modernization and reform efforts. New and more efficient state institutions have been built and the services to the citizens of Georgia are improving, the press release said, adding the EU was supporting and would continue to support these efforts within the instruments of the Eastern Partnership.
 
A statement by Ashton's spokesperson said she had congratulated President Saakashvili on the good progress of negotiations on an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, between the EU and Georgia: "this agreement would establish a new contractual relationship based on the sharing of values and comprehensive approximation with EU standards and norms."
 
Both Ashton and Füle underlined the importance of Georgia’s parliamentary elections in October, and the need for the electoral process to meet international democratic standards and be conducted in an environment of media freedom, fair competition and transparency.
 
"The parliamentary election in October and presidential elections in 2013 will be important test cases for Georgian democracy and we encourage all political forces to respect the electoral process and make sure that the voting is free and fair," Füle said after his meeting.
 
"The EU is increasingly concerned about growing political tension and polarization in the run-up to the parliamentary elections and I have expressed the conviction that the elections will be first of all about political programmes and ideas," he continued adding that the EU was watching developments in the media landscape with particular attention.
 
"With a solid democratic foundation Georgia can continue to accelerate the process of EU integration which offers stability, prosperity and continuity," the statement from Ashton's office said.
 
Regarding the situation in the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia both Catherine Ashton and Štefan Füle reiterated the EU's commitment to Georgia’s territorial integrity, and the need to maintain engagement with the populations of both de facto entities to reduce their isolation. (EU Neighbourhood Info)
 
Read more
 
Catherine Ashton statement
 
Štefan Füle press release
 
EU Delegation – Georgia
 
EU Neighbourhood Info Centre webpage -Georgia
 
 
 

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