Kobakhidze talks letters issued by former deputies and responds to Marina Kaljurand's statement regarding working groups
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, September 21, 2022
The chairman of the "Georgian Dream" party, Irakli Kobakhidze, was asked about recent statements made by former ruling party deputies by journalists. To the question of whether he separates himself from the opinion that American funding is spent not to strengthen the democratic system in Georgia, but to undermine it or not, he responded that the four former deputies' questions are 'legitimate':
"The four's questions are legitimate, the embassy can answer - I don't know what the funding provided by the USA is spent on," Irakli Kobakhidze,
According to Kobakhidze, the embassy itself can prove what the American funds are spent on.
"We are talking about 4 parliamentarians who are elected by the people and they ask questions, which is part of democracy. These questions are legitimate and the embassy can answer these questions, it is their prerogative. What answer should I have? I don't know, do you know what (US government funding) is spent on? - I don't know what exactly this money is spent on, and neither do you.
As for their specific question, it is being asked in public, we were not in favor of it and we are not even today. The question was raised publicly, and the embassy can provide detailed information on what these funds are spent on, will that be the end of it all? This is the main thing - a question was asked, there are 4 deputies, we may like or not to ask a question in public, it is their democratic right.
If the answers to these questions are given, the embassy can prove what these funds are for," said Kobakhidze.
Irakli Kobakhidze also responded to the statement issued by Marina Kaljurand, European Parliament member, who said that the working process needs to be inclusive and the Georgian government should listen to everyone. To which Kobakhidze said they can not be responsible for the parallel process:
"We cannot be responsible for the parallel process, we are responsible for the process that will take place officially in the parliamentary formats - in the parliamentary working groups," he said.
According to Kobakhidze, the MEPs were informed at the meeting about how the process of working on 12 recommendations is going.
According to his statement, the MEPs were told that participation in the working groups was offered to all parties, however, some are involved.
"The work has been started and in many places, it has even been completed. We are responsible for it, and most importantly, together with the opposition parties that are represented in the working groups, as well as non-governmental organizations, we not only discuss the issues but also listen to their opinions.
In terms of electoral reform, and parliamentary supervision, a lot of their proposals are outlined. Accordingly, the process is not only formally inclusive but also from a practical point of view," said Kobakhidze.
