EU-mediated talks between Georgian political parties end without result
EU mediator in the talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition, Christian Danielsson, has left for Brussels. Photo: Delegation of the EU to BiH.
Tweet 
Share
EU-mediated talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition on the issues of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of two opposition representatives have ended without a result and mediator Christian Danielsson has left for Brussels earlier today.
Danielsson, who was sent to Georgia by European Council President Charles Michel on March 12, had spent a week in Georgia, more than scheduled, to help the parties come to an agreement.
The last meeting yesterday lasted more than nine hours. However, the political tension in the country which began following the October 2020 parliamentary elections has not been resolved.
Danielsson stated earlier today that solving the crisis would have helped the parties to focus on ‘vital issues’ such as the coronavirus pandemic and its social and political results, as well as the country’s security and its Euro-Atlantic intentions.
Kobakhidze said that opposition's demands were illegitimate. Photo: Irakli Kobakhidze's Facebook page.
He stated that the parties were able to come to an agreement on several points. However, there were topics both parties have refused to make concessions on.
Danielsson stated that he will inform Michel regarding the process and the result of the negotiations.
The ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition have traded accusations.
Head of the Georgian Dream ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze has stated that the opposition has raised ‘two ultimatums which were absolutely illegitimate, against justice and against state interests.’
It was obvious they wished to disrupt the talks,” Kobakhidze said.
Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze said that ‘the opposition's attitude is as follows: we will not recognise the election results until we win the elections. It is impossible to come to an agreement when one party has such an attitude.’
Opposition has plans to take to the street again. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
The ruling party said that the EU has reiterated that the 2020 elections were ‘free and competitive’ and the opposition’s demands for repeat elections ‘had no legal grounds.’
As for the release of Melia and Rurua, the ruling party says that the issues are ‘up to the court and not to the government.’
The opposition says that the ruling party ‘has disrupted the talks and closed a door to Europe.’
The ruling party has refused to make any concessions. We were unable to completely agree on none of the issues,” leader of European Georgia opposition party Giga Bokeria has stated.
He said that the opposition will continue ‘peaceful rallies’ to make the government fulfil their demands.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated following his recent visit to Brussels that the EU top officials have reaffirmed Georgia’s 2020 parliamentary elections were ‘free and competitive’ and that the demands of the Georgian opposition parties for repeat elections ‘have no grounds.’
Christian Danielsson, who is leading the EU-backed mediation effort in Georgia, has held the first joint meetings with the ruling Georgian Dream party and opposition amid the current political tension. Although the parties did not again speak about the topics of their discussion in detail, ruling party chair Irakli Kobakhidze said after meeting that ‘the process has gone in the right direction.
Vice-President of European Commission and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles stated at the press conference following the EU-Georgia Association Council earlier today that this meeting is being held in a ‘pivotal moment’ for Georgia amid the current political crisis.
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.
Georgian opposition politicians, who plan to travel to the regions to meet with the public, have announced they will gather in front of the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi on May 15.
The EU mediator in the talks between the ruling Georgian Dream party and the opposition on the issues of repeat parliamentary elections and the release of opposition figures Christian Danielsson will travel back to Georgia by the end of the week to help the parties to come to an agreement on ‘two most challenging issues.’
Georgia’s former Ambassador to EU Natalie Sabanadze, who has recently resigned, has told Le Monde that ‘all our leaders say they are pro-European, but it is not enough to say it, we must be, too.’