Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili warned on 11 July of the current tensions in her country, a sign of the population's frustration with the occupation of a fifth of the territory (South Ossetia and Abkhazia), which could become a source of increased instability.
“The current situation, the tensions that are occurring, are linked to the fact that 20% of our territory is occupied. There is frustration. It is something that, in the long term, is also a matter of increased instability”, she explained alongside the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, in Batumi, Georgia.
For her, it is necessary to take into account the reaction of the population and for Europeans and Georgians to work together to put an end to this occupation. “The only [possible] solution is peaceful”, the president said.
Ms Zurabishvili received Mr Tusk's support regarding the territorial integrity and sovereignty of her country. The latter described Russia's decision to ban flights to Georgia as “unjustified and disproportionate” (see EUROPE 12288/24). At a conference in Batumi, Mr Tusk called out “Long live independent and free Georgia! ”
Mr Tusk and Ms Zurabishvili also highlighted the solid relations between the EU and Georgia, the latter emphasising her country's desire to move even closer to the Union. Returning to visa liberalisation, Mr Tusk said he had agreed with the President on “the need to redouble efforts to effectively address current challenges”, while some Member States complained of unjustified asylum claims by Georgian citizens.
The latter also called on Tbilisi to pursue its democratic reform process “with determination”. “A credible, independent and transparent judicial system is essential for public confidence, economic and social development and also to attract foreign investment”, he said.
Mr Tusk also welcomed the ongoing efforts to address shortcomings in previous elections and the government's decision to hold a poll in 2020 under a fully proportional system. According to him, this is a “real opportunity to strengthen the plurality of Georgia's democratic landscape”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)