EU Commissioner Varhelyi expresses gratitude to Georgian parliament for returning EU flag ‘to its place’
EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi underscored the importance of the April 19 EU-mediated agreement and called on political parties to work together for its implementation. Photo: Oliver Varhelyi/Twitter.
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European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has met with Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava earlier today and expressed gratitude to the parliament of Georgia for returning the EU flag ‘to its place’ after right-wing protesters burnt it earlier on July 6.
The freedom of expression unhindered by violence or any discrimination needs to be upheld. I am grateful to Parliament for returning the EU flag to its place”, stated Oliver Varhelyi.
We have also discussed the events of the past two days. Violence and vandalism are utterly unacceptable. The freedom of expression unhindered by violence or any discrimination needs to be upheld. I am grateful to Parliament for returning #EU flag to its place.
— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) July 7, 2021
The ongoing processes in Georgia were discussed at the meeting, including the focus on electoral and judicial reforms, the forthcoming elections, and the work of international observers.
EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi underscored the importance of the April 19 EU-mediated agreement and called on political parties to work together for its implementation.
#Georgia: With Parliament Speaker @kkuchava & representatives of all parliamentary political parties. Pleased that MPs returned to Parliament, it’s where debate needs to happen. Now all parties should sign 19 April political agreement & work together to implement it. pic.twitter.com/2Yz138uAt9
— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) July 7, 2021
Oliver Varhelyi has presented the economic and investment plan that the EU is launching for the Eastern Partnership countries, stating that they ‘are mobilising €2.3bn to leverage up to €17bn investments.’
Started my first visit to #SouthCaucasus in beautiful #Georgia ????????. This morning I’m presenting our ambitious Economic&Investment Plan for #EasternPartnership at round table on connectivity & recovery. We are mobilising €2.3bn to leverage up to €17bn investments. pic.twitter.com/82L1cbdTdI
— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) July 7, 2021
Today we’re putting forward an ambitious Economic and Investment Plan that will through mobilisation of around €17 billion in investments help stimulate jobs growth and bring prosperity to the region”, EU Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi announced.
EU Commissioner Varhelyi has also met with Georgian Patriarch Ilia II. The discussion mostly was focused on the EU support for Georgia’s territorial integrity, announced the press office of the Patriarchate.
Ilia II thanked the Commissioner for this support. For his part, Varhelyi promised the patriarch that this support would continue and be even more effective”, the press office of the Patriarchate said.
The patriarchate of Georgia called on people to counter protest the Tbilisi Pride march scheduled on July 5, after which the right-wing groups attacked journalists and raided the offices of Tbilisi Pride and movement Shame.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Kakha Kuchava has raised the European Union flag in front of the Georgian parliament building in the capital city of Tbilisi this morning after violent right-wing groups burnt EU and LGBT flags last night. The groups shut down a ‘silent’ demonstration held outside the Parliament of Georgia yesterday which was meant to protest the violent events of July 5.
The US Department of State has called on Georgian leaders and law enforcement ‘to protect the constitutional right to freedom of expression’ following violent attacks against journalists and civic activists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally by right-wing protesters on July 5.
Senaki and Chkhorotskhu Metropolitan Shio Mujiri, who is Patriarch Ilia II’s ‘locum tenens’ has addressed the crowd at Kashveti Church after the violent attacks of the right-wing groups, that the Georgian society will again unite against LGBT activities anytime in the future.
Georgian president condemns violence during today’s events
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has released a statement following today's events in the capital city of Tbilisi in which she condemns the violence and persecution of people on the basis of difference of opinion, sexuality or gender identity.
"There is no discrimination against differing opinions or lifestyles in Georgia”, Georgian PM Irakli Garibashvili said earlier today during a meeting with European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi. PM Irakli Garibashvili underscored that the foreign policy course of Georgia is Euro-Atlantic and is supported by the vast majority of the population, which ‘will not change.’
European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi has stated that the European Union stands by Georgia during a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili earlier today. Oliver Varhelyi said that Georgia has overcome its recent political crisis and it is now possible to start working on a new stage of cooperation.
Ambassadors of 25 EU countries have called on the Georgian government ‘to uphold the rule of law and to act in effective prevention of any future attempts at such criminal acts,’ following the violent events of July 5, where right-wing protesters attacked and assaulted journalists at the Tbilisi Pride counter rally, removed the EU flag twice from its position in front of parliament and burnt it.