The News in Brief
Wednesday, September 4
President of Estonia on Georgia’s EU membership
During the 14th Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, expansion of the European Union was discussed.
President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid commented on the issue of the EU membership of Georgia, noting that she believed that Georgia could become a successful reformer country and refusal of the perspective to offer membership to Georgia would be recognition of Russia’s influence on the region.
“The main reason why it is important not to close the door to Georgia is the occupation. Georgia’s territory is partially occupied and this does not even represent a frozen conflict. Occupation of South Ossetia continues,” Kaljulaid said.
She said that if Russia’s reaction is the matter of fear, it is a signal that Russia still dictates who can choose a Western orientation.
Over the past seven years, the Bled Strategic Forum has grown into a successful platform for high-level strategic dialogue among leaders.
Suspension of Zakaria Kutsnashvili’s MP mandate
During the parliamentary plenary sitting on Tuesday, Zakaria Kutsnashvili was suspended MP mandate.
According to Giorgi Kakhiani, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues, Zakaria Kutsnashvili himself called on the Parliament for suspension of his mandate.
Kakhiani noted that the Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules considered the matter and made a decision of suspension of the mandate.
Kutsnashvili rejected MP mandate on June 20 after Russian MP Dmitry Sergey Gavrilov, who arrived in Georgia within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Orthodox Assembly, opened the assembly from the parliamentary speaker’s chair, which many Georgians saw as an unwelcome reminder of Russian military occupation of its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Kutsnashvili was the head of the Georgian delegation during the Assembly.
(By Mariam Chanishvili)
During the 14th Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, expansion of the European Union was discussed.
President of Estonia Kersti Kaljulaid commented on the issue of the EU membership of Georgia, noting that she believed that Georgia could become a successful reformer country and refusal of the perspective to offer membership to Georgia would be recognition of Russia’s influence on the region.
“The main reason why it is important not to close the door to Georgia is the occupation. Georgia’s territory is partially occupied and this does not even represent a frozen conflict. Occupation of South Ossetia continues,” Kaljulaid said.
She said that if Russia’s reaction is the matter of fear, it is a signal that Russia still dictates who can choose a Western orientation.
Over the past seven years, the Bled Strategic Forum has grown into a successful platform for high-level strategic dialogue among leaders.
Suspension of Zakaria Kutsnashvili’s MP mandate
During the parliamentary plenary sitting on Tuesday, Zakaria Kutsnashvili was suspended MP mandate.
According to Giorgi Kakhiani, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Procedural Issues, Zakaria Kutsnashvili himself called on the Parliament for suspension of his mandate.
Kakhiani noted that the Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules considered the matter and made a decision of suspension of the mandate.
Kutsnashvili rejected MP mandate on June 20 after Russian MP Dmitry Sergey Gavrilov, who arrived in Georgia within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Orthodox Assembly, opened the assembly from the parliamentary speaker’s chair, which many Georgians saw as an unwelcome reminder of Russian military occupation of its breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Kutsnashvili was the head of the Georgian delegation during the Assembly.
(By Mariam Chanishvili)