Brussels, 06/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption of a common resolution by the main political groups on Thursday 5 June by 581 votes to 50 and 17 abstentions, the Parliament expresses concern at the tension between Georgia and Russia regarding the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. The situation is one that makes MEPs want a more active role for the EU in that region, as they had already recommended during the plenary debate on 7 May this year (EUROPE 9656).
MEPs feel all parties should refrain from action that could destabilise the situation further, and call for renewed efforts to bring the parties back into dialogue. They express, however, their “deep disapproval” at Russia's announcement that it will establish official ties with institutions within the separatist authorities of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. They also state their “full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognised borders”. They invite Russia henceforth to “immediately withdraw its additional troops in Abkhazia” and “take the view that the present peacekeeping format must be revised since the Russian troops have lost their role of neutral and impartial peacekeepers”. “Deeper European involvement”, especially with an ESDP border mission, would be welcome, the EP states, expressing the hope that the Council and the Commission will firmly raise this issue during the next EU-Russia summit and during talks on a new reinforced partnership agreement.
Furthermore, MEPs positively assess the outcome of the legislative elections of 21 May, which were won by President Saakachvili's party, saying that “substantial progress has been made since the January presidential elections”. Further efforts have to be made, however, and the EP calls on the Georgian authorities to deal with all complaints about the electoral process in a transparent manner.
Finally, given Georgia's wish to speed up the integration process begun with the European Union as part of the strengthened European neighbourhood policy, the EP calls on the Council and Commission to speed up the opening of negotiations on the EU-Georgia visa regime in order to conclude the visa facilitation and readmission agreements with Georgia in the near future. It sees the need to start negotiations on broad and comprehensive free trade agreements (and awaits further progress on this matter during the French EU Presidency (EUROPE 9669). (A.B./transl. jl)