PACE President pays his first official visit to Georgia

Head of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Pedro Agramunt is on his first official visit to Georgia.

Agramunt has occupied his current post as head of PACE since January 2016. PACE heads are elected annually for a one-year term. 

The Spaniard, who represents the European People’s Party (EPP) in PACE, held his first meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili this morning in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi. 

The two officials mainly focused on the ongoing democratic reforms in Georgia, PACE-Georgia cooperation, the October 8 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia and the current security situation in the region. 

We are eager to hold most transparent and fair elections in the history of Georgia,” said PM Kvirikashvili and he stressed the Government’s willingness to invite a large number of foreign observers to monitor the election process in Georgia.

The Georgian high official also briefed Agramunt about the complex reforms Georgia had carried out since 2012 regarding empowering of democracy, improving human rights, the rule of law and media freedom. 

Kvirikashvili stressed Georgia’s high ratings in international surveys pointed to the country’s success in these areas. 

In response, Agramunt said it was evident Georgia had made significant progress and PACE was aware of all the efforts by Georgia to develop. 

PACE stands by Georgia,” Agramunt stressed at the meeting. 

He reiterated the Council’s support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed the importance of punishing the border guard who killed Georgian citizen Giga Otkhozoria at the Administrative Boundary Line (ABL) with de facto Abkhazia on May 19.