US Ambassador Degnan: EU-mediated agreement still provides important framework for reforms in Georgia
Ambassador Degnan stated that the agreement was valuable because it was a multi-party document. Photo: imedinews.ge.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said earlier today that the EU-mediated agreement still provides a ‘very important framework for reforms’ while answering a question about the ruling party’s decision not to conduct snap parliamentary elections.
Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze announced that ‘no elections will take place until the one scheduled in 2024’ following the ruling party’s decision to annul its signatory status in late July to the April 19 agreement which resolved the political crisis caused by parliamentary elections of 2020 and proposed fundamental judicial and electoral reforms.
Per the agreement, the Georgian Dream had to hold a snap election if it received less than 43 per cent of votes on the upcoming municipal elections in October.
Ambassador Degnan stated that the agreement was valuable because it was a multi-party document, underscoring that it provides a ‘useful roadmap for the kinds of reforms that Georgia needs to do in the coming months.’
I will say that the April 19th Agreement was negotiated over six months by Georgia’s political leaders. One of the reasons it took six months is to ensure that it was consistent, and it is consistent with Georgia’s constitution and its laws,” US Ambassador Degnan stated.
The opposition parties and NGOs assessed the ruling party’s withdrawal from the agreement as a deviation from the country’s Euro-Atlantic path.
Several opposition leaders such as the United National Movement (UNM) party’s leader Nika Melia and Girchi - More Freedom party’s leader Zurab Japaridze left the Georgian parliament soon after the ruling party’s decision to annul its signatory status of the agreement.
US Embassy in Georgia and various representatives of the international community expressed their disappointment for the Georgian government’s withdrawal from the agreement and called on all political parties to work together for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
Three leading members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Marina Kaljurand, Sven Mikser and Viola von Cramon-Taubadel are ‘surprised and disappointed by the unexpected decision’ of the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw unilaterally from the April 19 agreement brokered by European Council President Charles Michel.
MEP Viola von Cramon is now holding informal meetings in Tbilisi with Georgian opposition parties and members following the recent decision of the Georgian Dream ruling party to withdraw from the April 19 EU-mediated agreement.
The international community has criticised the ruling Georgian Dream party’s exit from the EU-mediated agreement which put an end to a six-month political standoff caused by parliamentary elections of 2020. Seven US senators have published a joint statement on the breakdown of the Georgian EU-mediated agreement which says that ‘recent developments in Georgia undermine the reform efforts agreed to in the April 19 agreement.’
The US Embassy in Georgia has responded to the ruling party’s exit from the EU-mediated agreement and stated that ‘Washington is growing increasingly alarmed about repeated setbacks to Georgia’s democratic future.’ The ruling Georgian Dream party announced yesterday that the agreement initiated by the European Council President Charles Michel ‘completed its mission’ and left the agreement.
US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan stated earlier today that she hopes the EU-mediated agreement will remain in force despite the ruling Georgian Dream party’s recent withdrawal from it. Georgian Dream annulled its signatory status to the April 19 agreement which resolved the political crisis in Georgia caused by parliamentary elections of 2020 and proposed fundamental electoral and judicial reforms.
An American Cultural Center (ACC) has opened in Tbilisi earlier today. US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan attended the opening ceremony at which she stated that ‘this is a fantastic new initiative’ for a strong partnership between the two countries. The ACC will focus on the arts, culture and education-related projects and will ‘promote cultural links between the US and Georgia.’