Georgian PM, opposition meet for talks negotiated by European Council president
Charles Michel, who arrived in Georgia last night, has called all parties to de-escalate and come together to relaunch the political dialogue in Georgia. Photo: President's press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and opposition politicians have gathered at the presidential palace in Tbilisi at a meeting mediated by European Council President Charles Michel.
Michel said following the meeting that the political dialogue in Georgia 'is relaunched tonight' and the leaders of parties had an opportunity to listen to each other. However, he said, ‘we understand that there are many difficult topics that need to be tackled by the political actors’.
I proposed the support of the EU in order to encourage all the possible efforts on the different elements”, Michel said.
He then noted that at the upcoming EU-Georgia association council in two weeks in Brussels, the EU will ‘observe’ the progress made in Georgia ‘on different difficult topics’.
The European Council has released video footage of the meeting:
However, Michel added that the main message is the following: 'what counts for the EU is the protection of the interests of the Georgian citizens'.
In this country there are many difficult and complex challenges: the economic development, the social cohesion, Covid-19, security, stability - these are very essential challenges that need to be tackled. And that's why it's urgent, it's urgent to solve this political crisis", Michel said after the meeting.
The European Council President also said that tonight he is proud that an important step 'into the right direction' has been made.
He said although, it 'does not mean that everything is solved', but all the participants have expressed their willingness 'to strengthen the political dialogue' in order to find solutions together.
Watch Charles Michel's entire news briefing:
Opposition politicians, who had met with ruling party leaders after the October parliamentary elections four times, held the first direct dialogue with prime minister.
Although their demands remain unchanged and include repeat parliamentary elections and release of political prisoners, opposition politicians who refuse to take up their parliamentary mandates welcomed the dialogue. However, they plan to continue peaceful demonstrations.
It is clear for our European partners that if we want to reach the goal both parties have to express their political will for the agreement”, United National Movement member Salome Samadashvili said.
Noting that the opposition has factually confirmed their willingness tonight, Samadashvili said ‘the negotiations had come to a deadlock’ because of the government’s decissions.
Only six of 60 opposition MPs have entered new parliament so far. Those refusing to take up their mandates have been holding protests rallies since last October. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge
Hailing the political and diplomatic skills of Charles Michel, the Labour Party chair Shalva Natelashvili thinks that ‘a hopeful spring is coming’.
Nevertheless, Natelashvili believes that only repeat parliamentary election - which is the number one issue on opposition’s agenda - 'should change not only the government but our lives for the better'.
On his part PM Garibashvili noted that despite their differences the meeting was held in a ‘rather constructive atmosphere’.
We agreed that the dialogue will continue. I will have consultations with the political council of the party and we will set further steps”, Garibashvili told journalists stressing the importance of finding ‘common national consensus’.
Thank you @eucopresident for your personal efforts in strengthening the ???????????????? strategic partnership. ???????? remains an exemplary ally&partner for the ???????? in the region&beyond. We remain loyal&diligent on our path to EU membership. We reiterated our readiness for political dialogue.
— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) March 1, 2021
Unrest in Georgia was sparked after the recent Tbilisi City Court ruling which said that the opposition United National Movement chair Nika Melia be remanded into custody for failure to post bail for his release in a case that dates back to the June 2019 protests.
Melia was arrested for refusal to post bail shortly after the parliament approved Irakli Garibashvili prime minister.
Michel, who arrived in Georgia last night, held separate meetings with Georgian officials and opposition earlier today, inviting them to meet tonight:
I have called all parties to de escalate and come together to relaunch the political dialogue in #Georgia
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 1, 2021
The time has come to move from facilitation to mediation.
I have invited them to a meeting tonight. pic.twitter.com/lcisUL73q5
Claiming the parliamentary elections last fall were falsified on behalf of the Georgian Dream, opposition politicians including Melia demand snap parliamentary elections be held.
Responding to the opposition’s demand the ruling party however says any discussion on holding repeat parliamentary election is not on agenda.
Georgian opposition parties have requested mediation instead of facilitation from the EU to come to an agreement with the ruling Georgian party amid the current political tension.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met with the President of the European Council Charles Michel in Tbilisi earlier today. Garibashvili has stated that Michel’s visit ‘is a clear reiteration that our region has a strategic importance for the EU.’ He also said that the visit ‘demonstrates the strong support and partnership of the EU.’
President of the European Council Charles Michel has met with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Tbilisi earlier today and stated that his visit demonstrates the EU’s commitment to countries in the region, including Georgia. Michel is scheduled to meet with Georgian, Ukrainian and Moldovan leaders during his regional trip.
Georgian Foriegn Minister David Zalkaliani has stated that the upcoming visit of the European Council President Charles Michel later today is a ‘clear confirmation’ that the EU stands with Georgia as its ‘most important partner’ in the region.
Seven individuals have been detained at the opposition’s anti-government rally at the Georgian parliament in central Tbilisi earlier today after they disobeyed police.The opposition parties which have been demanding repeat parliamentary elections since November 2020 took to the street again last week, following the arrest of the head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that the opposition parties have continued ‘destructive actions and tried to block the functioning of the state legislature’ shortly after the meeting with the European Council president Charles Michel yesterday.
European Council President Charles Michel has mandated Christian Danielsson to lead a EU-backed mediation effort in Georgia, in follow up to the relaunch of the political dialogue between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition. The appointment comes shortly after Michel’s visit to Georgia earlier this month.
Twenty-three former diplomats, ambassadors and representatives of various international organisations have released an open letter in which they said that the Georgian Dream government ‘must take the first step’ to solve the current tension in the country and this step should be the release of the new head of the United National Movement opposition party Nika Melia.
Vice-President of European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles has stated at the European Parliament today that the EU is looking forward to seeing Georgian political parties progress on dialogue.
EU mediator Christian Danielsson has met with the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition amid the current political tension in Georgia. Danielsson, who arrived in Georgia yesterday, has held separate meetings with different parties.
Christian Danielsson, who is visiting Georgia to lead the EU-backed mediation effort in Georgia, has held follow-up meetings with the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition amid the current political tension.