US Ambassador on UNM signing EU-mediated agreement: it’s a good sign for strengthening Georgia’s path forward
Ambassador Degnan underlined that the agreement is ‘the roadmap of the reforms that Georgia needs to make’ which ‘will make a difference in the lives of every Georgian.’ Photo: US Embassy in Georgia.
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US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan has welcomed the largest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party’s decision to sign the EU-mediated agreement and stated that ‘it is a good sign for strengthening Georgia’s path forward.’
We have been encouraging the UNM to sign the agreement for quite some time, so it is a good sign because this (April 19 agreement) represents a roadmap of the important reforms that the country is to make,” Ambassador Degnan stated.
Signature of the Agreement "A way forward for Georgia" of 19 April by the Chair of UNM Nika Melia, on behalf of the UNM party, by faction leader Khatia Dekanoidze and by individual UNM MPs.
— EU Delegation Georgia ???????? (@EUinGeorgia) September 2, 2021
More photos: https://t.co/qGhByUOn5y pic.twitter.com/oFlMrefUjz
The UNM opposition party has signed the April 19, EU-mediated agreement proposed by European Council President Charles Michel today after months of refusal to join it which resolved the political crisis in the country caused by the parliamentary elections 2020 and put forward fundamental electoral and judiciary reforms.
The UNM’s decision follows the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s withdrawal from the agreement in late July due to the largest opposition party’s refusal to sign the document.
Ambassador Degnan underlined that the agreement is ‘the roadmap of the reforms that Georgia needs to make’ which ‘will make a difference in the lives of every Georgian.’
These are the kinds of reforms that are going to allow for a stronger economy, for a better electoral process, these are the reforms that touch the lives of every Georgian and so it is a very good sign that UNM has decided to sign on,” Ambassador Degnan noted.
However, the GD stated that UNM’s signature on the document ‘makes no sense as the agreement does not exist.’