Brussels, 22/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 22 July, after 17 months of discussions, the European Union and Georgia concluded negotiations on setting up a deep and comprehensive free-trade zone, as part of the association agreement.
Speaking upstream of the Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting, that day, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze stated: “I am sure that we will be able to initial the association agreement with the European Union (at the Eastern Partnership summit) in Vilnius, in November”.
Determined to demonstrate the efforts made by Georgia in terms of economic and democratic change, the minister responded to recent criticism by EPP MEPs of the Georgian government (see EUROPE 10802). They alluded to “clear democratic regression” in the country. Panjikidze described this criticism as “incorrect because they're not based on any evidence” and added that “we are working with the EU Observer, Thomas Hammarberg. He is the equivalent of an 'institution' for human rights”. The minister recommended that they wait for his report (see EUROPE 10801), which is due to be finalised in July and presented in September and “then you will be able to judge”.
She has ready flagged up the progress made in judicial independence and declared that legal reform is being accompanied by “investigations into past cases”, such as the recent arrests for corruption of former Saakashvili government ministers. According to Panjikidze, these arrests have not been political but necessary: “We cannot look towards the future without sorting out cases of the past. Perhaps this irritates our European and US partners but I am sure that this will not affect the agreement”.
Panjikidze highlighted the government's commitment to guarantee free and transparent presidential elections on 27 October, with “all parties enjoying equal access to the media”. She added that the police would be on standby to “protect all meetings to avoid violence”.
The minister also referred to progress being made in relations with Russia but deplored, however, “Russia's aggressive policy in the occupied territories” (South Ossetia and Abkhazia). She called on the EU and US for assistance in finding a diplomatic. (LM/transl.fl)