Georgian Parliament Speaker, Justice Minister discuss cooperation with CoE Sec Gen
Papuashvili thanked Burić for supporting the territorial integrity of Georgia and the peaceful resolution of conflict, highlighting the significance of the consolidated report of the Secretary General on Conflict in Georgia. Photo via Parliament of Georgia
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili and Justice Minister Rati Bregadze on Saturday held meetings with Marija Pejčinović Burić, the Council of Europe’s Secretary General, discussing fruitful cooperation and prospects for further deepening relations.
In a meeting between the two officials, Papuashvili briefed Burić on Georgia’s progress in the implementation of the 12 priorities outlined by the European Union to grant the country its membership candidate status, emphasising the CoE’s important contribution to the democratic development of the country.
Photo via Parliament of Georgia
The Secretary General positively assessed the process of harmonisation of Georgian legislation to European standards and said the CoE was “ready” to support Georgia on its path to join the EU, the Georgian Parliament press office said.
Good meeting w/Chairman @shpapuashvili & @PACE_News delegation members in Tbilisi today /Bonne réunion avec M. le Président @shpapuashvili et les membres de la délégation @PACE_News à Tbilisi aujourd'hui pic.twitter.com/i5yu8TmdAl
— Marija Pejčinović Burić (@MarijaPBuric) July 1, 2023
She pointed out the importance of visiting the occupation line in central Georgia's village of Odzisi, which separates the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) region from the rest of the country, as part of her official visit to Georgia and expressing the CoE’s solidarity with the local population.
Held an engaging meeting with @MarijaPBuric, Secretary General of the Council of Europe. We are grateful for @coe's support for ????????'s territorial integrity & peaceful conflict resolution. We also appreciate @coe's contribution towards ????????'s democratic development. We look forward… pic.twitter.com/FiBTKPeCuP
— Shalva Papuashvili ???????? (@shpapuashvili) July 1, 2023
Papuashvili thanked Burić for supporting the territorial integrity of Georgia and the peaceful resolution of conflict, highlighting the significance of the consolidated report of the Secretary General on Conflict in Georgia.
In their meeting, Justice Minister Bregadze and Burić reviewed Georgia’s progress in human rights protection and in strengthening the rule of law, which has been reflected in the conclusions and reports of the CoE, the Justice Ministry said.
Photo via Justice Ministry
The conversation also touched on the successful reforms carried out in the penitentiary system, as a result of which the practice of torture and inhuman treatment was eliminated in prisons, which, until 2012, had been repeatedly criticised by the European Court of Human Rights and the Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the CoE.
Legal cooperation @coe-Georgia at the core of my meeting w/@Justice_geo Bregadze in Tbilisi today / La coopération juridique entre le @coe_fr et la Géorgie au cœur de ma réunion avec M. le Ministre @Justice_geo Bredadze à Tbilisi aujourd'hui pic.twitter.com/0gfd6LjFA0
— Marija Pejčinović Burić (@MarijaPBuric) July 1, 2023
Prisoners have an opportunity to get higher education and acquire the most demanded professions to get employed, receive complete medical services, as well as participate in sports competitions, the Justice Minister said.
The legislative changes implemented in 2022 were positively evaluated, as a result of which the Georgian courts will proactively use the precedents of the ECHR. The sides stressed the importance of enforcing the decisions on the interstate disputes won by Georgia against Russia, with Burić pledging CoE’s full support to Georgia in this regard.