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The News in Brief

Tuesday, February 28
Georgia receives final approval for visa-free travel

The Council of the European Union adopted the necessary amendments to the EU legal act to grant Georgian citizens visa-free travel to the EU-Schengen area on 27 February. The publishing of the revised law in the official Journal will define the exact date on which the visa waiver will come into force, likely to be at the end of March.

“You must be very proud of this great achievement, which is the result of the common efforts of the Georgian people and the Georgian authorities,” said the EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, who travelled to Tbilisi to mark the occasion. “I am confident that the possibility of visa-free travel will further facilitate contacts between people and strengthen business, social and cultural ties between the European Union and Georgia.”

Under the visa exemption, Georgians with a biometric passport will have the right to enter the Schengen area visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period, for business, tourist or family purposes, but not to work.
(euneighbours)



Georgian judo team takes two gold at Düsseldorf Grand Prix

The Georgian judo team performed brilliantly at Düsseldorf Grand Prix with two gold medals and second place ahead of Russia and France.

The team from Japan won the competition with five gold medals.

Vazha Margvelashvili (-66 kg) and Beka Gviniashvili (-90 kg) bested everyone in their weight categories, while Lasha Shavdatuashvili (-73 kg) and Amiran Papinashvili (-60 kg) got silver.
(DF watch)



EU Says Abkhazia Crossing Points Closure ‘Detrimental’ to Freedom of Movement

The announced closure of two crossing points along the Administrative Boundary Line of Georgia’s breakaway region of Abkhazia - Nabakevi-Khurcha and Meore Otobaia-Orsantia “will be detrimental to the freedom of movement of the population, including school children, on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Line” and “will likely increase the risk of incidents, especially detentions,” spokesperson for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement on February 25.

The de-facto Abkhaz government decided to close two out of four crossing points along the administrative boundary line (ABL) between Abkhazia’s predominantly ethnic Georgian Gali district and its adjoining Zugdidi district of Samegrelo region at its session on December 28.

“Such a unilateral decision would go against commitments to work towards enhanced security and improved living conditions for the conflict-affected population,” reads the statement by EU foreign policy chief’s spokesperson.

“Furthermore, it would be contrary to efforts to normalize the situation by creating an atmosphere that is not conducive to longer-term conflict resolution and overall stability in the region,” it also says.

In its the statement, the European Union, “calls for the maintenance of the opening of the crossing points to ensure the freedom of movement, including humanitarian crossings.”

“Furthermore, the participants in the Geneva International Discussions should engage constructively in enhancing security and improving living conditions for the conflict-affected population,” it also states.

The European Union “continues to closely follow the situation along the Administrative Boundary Line” and “reaffirms its full support to Georgia’s territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” according to the statement.

The European Union Monitoring Mission in Georgia (EUMM), which has unarmed monitors on the ground without being able to access the breakaway region, expressed “serious concern” about the planned closure at 42nd meeting of Gali Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism on January 24.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi expressed “deep concern” over the proposed closing following Ambassador Ian Kelly’s visit to the two ABL crossings on January 26.

Similar concerns were expressed by the United Nations Georgia office as well. “The United Nations are concerned that the announced restrictions will have negative consequences for the humanitarian and development needs of those living in Abkhazia, Georgia,” UN Resident Coordinator Niels Scott’s January 26 statement said.

The issue was also raised by the U.S. Mission to the OSCE. In a statement delivered at the Permanent Council on January 19, the Deputy Chief of Mission Kate M. Byrnes said that the planned closure could “further restrict freedom of movement, including of schoolchildren and patients requiring medical treatment.”

At the same meeting, the European Union delivered a statement saying that the closure “will severely restrict the freedom of movement of the population, including school children, on both sides of the Administrative Boundary Line” and called on “corrective measures” to guarantee the freedom of movement.

Residents of Nabakevi and surrounding villages in Gali district organized a protest rally against the planned closure of two crossing points on January 25. Locals travel to nearby villages in neighboring Zugdidi district through the two crossing points for schooling, medical services and commercial activities. The alternative route, running through the main crossing point over the Enguri River, close to village Chuburkhinji, would lengthen the journey for locals by at least 30 kilometers.
(Civil.ge)