The News in Brief
Thursday, April 11, 2024
Prepared by Messenger Staff
President Zourabichvili Meets with European Union's Political and Security Committee Delegation
The President of Georgia met with the delegation of the Political and Security Committee of the European Union.
According to the President's administration, the discussions at the meeting included Georgia-EU relations, the consequences of the 'Russian Law' and security issues in the Black Sea region.
"The President of Georgia referred to the Russian law, which has been initiated for the second time in parliament, as a challenge for our country. She emphasized that the adoption of this law would have a significant impact on civil society. Russia's goal is to undermine the civil sector, which upholds the values of the European Union.
"When it comes to choosing between Europe and Russia, the president cannot remain neutral!" stated the president.
Furthermore, the president addressed the issue of abolishing women's quotas, highlighting that the current rhetoric surrounding this matter in the country is unacceptable," as stated by the administration.
The administration also reported that Delphine Pronk, the head of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the President of Georgia for her significant personal contribution to upholding the values of the European Union. Pronk also congratulated Georgia on attaining the status of a candidate country for the European Union.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power Criticizes 'Russian Law'
At the Senate Foreign Relations Committee session, Samantha Power, the Administrator of USAID, conveyed that "Russian law" has no place in Europe. She mentioned that previous experiences indicate that such laws negatively impact accountability for corruption and freedom of speech. The discussions during the session primarily focused on the newly proposed law by the Georgian Dream party.
Power emphasized that it is crucial to not only recognize but also protect human rights and democratic principles.
"We've seen copies of Russia's foreign agent law appear in many places, and the results are less accountability for corruption and restrictions on free speech. Of course, Georgia is now standing, or seems to be standing, on the road to Europe, and has recently received some recognition of these ambitions. Fundamentally, a similar foreign agent law has no place in Europe. Human rights and democratic principles should not only be recognized but also protected," Power stated.
President Zourabichvili Meets with European Union's Political and Security Committee Delegation
According to the President's administration, the discussions at the meeting included Georgia-EU relations, the consequences of the 'Russian Law' and security issues in the Black Sea region.
"The President of Georgia referred to the Russian law, which has been initiated for the second time in parliament, as a challenge for our country. She emphasized that the adoption of this law would have a significant impact on civil society. Russia's goal is to undermine the civil sector, which upholds the values of the European Union.
"When it comes to choosing between Europe and Russia, the president cannot remain neutral!" stated the president.
Furthermore, the president addressed the issue of abolishing women's quotas, highlighting that the current rhetoric surrounding this matter in the country is unacceptable," as stated by the administration.
The administration also reported that Delphine Pronk, the head of the delegation, expressed gratitude to the President of Georgia for her significant personal contribution to upholding the values of the European Union. Pronk also congratulated Georgia on attaining the status of a candidate country for the European Union.
USAID Administrator Samantha Power Criticizes 'Russian Law'
Power emphasized that it is crucial to not only recognize but also protect human rights and democratic principles.
"We've seen copies of Russia's foreign agent law appear in many places, and the results are less accountability for corruption and restrictions on free speech. Of course, Georgia is now standing, or seems to be standing, on the road to Europe, and has recently received some recognition of these ambitions. Fundamentally, a similar foreign agent law has no place in Europe. Human rights and democratic principles should not only be recognized but also protected," Power stated.