EU Ambassador Hartzell: April 19 agreement represents "roadmap" for Georgia's European integration
The April 19 EU-mediated agreement put an end to a 6-month political crisis in Georgia.
Photo: EU Delegation to Georgia
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EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell has said that the April 19 EU-mediated agreement remains a "roadmap" for Georgia's European integration, pointing out that the agreement had helped to end a "toxic boycott of the Parliament" after the 2020 elections.
Ambassador Hartzell expressed his disappointment over the fact that the agreement, signed by 147 out of 150 Georgian MPs at different times, was not transformed into a "joint action in a lasting manner."
However, he noted, some reforms cited in the agreement have been implemented, while others are yet to be finalized.
I would, however, like to underscore that these reforms are about the quality and standards of elections, about the rule of law and about the political decision-making culture, all of which are fundamental to any democracy, said the ambassador.
Ambassador Hartzell emphasized that the agreement may not be the only way to fulfil Georgia's European aspirations, but it offers "one credible way."
If not that way, then what way, is the question that begs an answer. The European Union will always stand by Georgia´s side, but the consolidation of the country must be borne and owned by Georgia and by the Georgians, he added.
Georgian opposition parties took to the streets following the 2020 parliamentary elections, claiming the elections had been fabricated and demanding snap elections.
The six-month political crisis was eventually resolved by the April 19 EU-mediated agreement.
The ruling Georgian Dream party announced its withdrawal from the agreement in July, saying that the agreement ‘had completed its mission.’
On the other hand, the United National Movement, the biggest opposition party in Georgia, joined the agreement in September, over four months after refusing to do so.
The United National Movement (UNM), the largest opposition party in Georgia, has decided to join the April 2021 EU-mediated agreement after more than four months of refusing to do so.The UNM’s decision comes on the heels of the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party’s withdrawal from the agreement at the end of July ‘because the main opposition, the UNM, refused to join the agreement,while other opposition parties were constantly violating it.’
The ruling Georgian Dream party has annulled its signatory status to the April 19 EU-mediated agreement which resolved a six-month political crisis in the country following the 2020 parliamentary elections and proposed large-scale electoral and judiciary reforms.Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Irakli Kobakhidze stated earlier today that the agreement initiated by the European Council President Charles Michel ‘had completed its mission’ and accused opposition parties of non-fulfilment of the agreement.
European Council President Charles Michel has come to Tbilisi earlier today, shortly after the majority of Georgian political parties signed his proposal to solve the political tension in Georgia which began following the 2020 parliamentary elections. After a meeting with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Michel said that he is happy Georgian political parties have come to an agreement and stated that ‘today marks the start of hard work that will take Georgia forward along its Euro-Atlantic path.’
The United States welcomes the agreement reached by the government of Georgia and several opposition parties on April 19, under the mediation of European Union President Charles Michel, to bring an end to Georgia’s political crisis, announces the US Embassy to Georgia.
Four Georgian-based non-governmental organisations that reviewed the implementation of the European Union-mediated April 19 agreement between the Georgian government and opposition, which put an end to six months of political tension over the country’s October 2020 parliamentary elections, say ambitious electoral reform was partly carried out in the country while pointing out that the fulfilment of judicial reforms almost failed.