International representatives and Georgian officials gather as Euronest PA 8th Annual Assembly is held in Tbilisi
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Wednesday, December 11
The Parliament of Georgia hosted the Euronest PA 8th Annual Assembly. Assembly was attended by the Members of the European Parliament and Members of the Parliaments of the EaP countries.
The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Archil Talakvadze delivered a speech at the session, saying that European and Euro-Atlantic integration is the decision of the Georgian people. The Chairman of the Parliament talked about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and its importance for Georgia.
Talakvadze underlined that Georgia is loyal to a stronger and ambitious partnership. As he evaluated, cooperation between the EaP countries is crucial and, in this context, he stressed the importance of the Georgia-Moldova-Ukraine Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
According to him, the session is of strategic importance as it considers future steps to be made for the achievement of the common goals.
He also talked about aggressive actions by Russian Federation and illegal detention Georgian physician, Vazha Gaprindashvili, who is one of the latest victims of Russian occupation and his detention evidences the attitude of Russia and de-facto authorities towards the human rights: “This is unacceptable not only from political but first of all, moral and human perspective. This must end.”
The President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili also addressed participants of the event, she talked about the EU integration and polarization in society.
“We need to be creative to achieve our ultimate goal – EU integration. We need to find new, unordinary ways through new instruments and new efforts. There is no alternative for Georgia and for Georgian citizens. We strive to create the new conditions and new frame for the new Constitution, and I am the guarantor and protector of this document,” noted Zourabichvili.
The Vice-President of the European Parliament, Klara Dobrev thanked the organizers for holding the session in Tbilisi: “It makes another proof of readiness of Georgia and its serious approach to the EU and Euronest. We highly value it.”
The Ambassador of EU to Georgia, Carl Hartzell also attended the event, during his speech, he talked about the EaP initiative and other important issues.
“EaP initiative is based on common interests, commitments, values and responsibility. Our strategic partnership is mature, and we enjoy significant achievements – we have the EUAA, DCFTA, agreements of partnership – serving the milestone for our cooperation,” noted the Ambassador.
According to him, Georgia keeps progress through reforming and potential. He emphasized the EUAA, visa-free travel and other benefits for Georgia stating that soon, the new association agenda will be discussed.
He touched upon the electoral reform and election of the Supreme Court judges and noted that it underlines democratic aspiration of Georgia. He responded to the political dialogue between the opposition and the ruling party and hoped for the achievement of progress.
The Euronest PA was established on 3 May 2011 in Brussels, when the Presidents (or their representatives) of the Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Moldovan, Ukrainian and European Parliaments signed the Assembly's Constitutive Act.
The mission of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly is to promote the conditions necessary to accelerate political association and further economic integration between the EU and the Eastern European Partners, as well as to strengthen cooperation within the region and between the region and the EU. The multilateral Assembly contributes to strengthening, developing and making the Eastern Partnership visible.
