The FINANCIAL — At the end of his official visit to Georgia, PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon has welcomed the democratic transition of power in the country following the parliamentary elections in October 2012, which were generally considered by observers to have been free and fair, according to Council of Europe.
He invited the authorities, and all political forces, to continue developing a culture of political cohabitation, calling for mutual respect between the different parties. “This is essential for creating a climate in which power can be transferred, necessary if a democratic society is to work well,” he said.
“I have informed all those I have spoken to of the concerns of the international community at the recent arrests of former members of the government and of senior officials belonging to the opposition party, in particular that of Mr Vano Merabishvili, former Prime Minister and Secretary General of the “United National Movement.“ These proceedings are particularly worrying as they have taken place just a few months after a presidential election,” said Jean-Claude Mignon.
“I was encouraged by the constructive response of those I spoke to and I endorse the proposal made by the Prime Minister and the President of the Parliament to step up PACE monitoring activities in Georgia to ensure full compliance with our standards. Other Council of Europe monitoring mechanisms and institutions could also increase their activities in Georgia, in keeping with their specific competences and independence,” he said. He also hoped that the Georgian courts would examine such cases in a fully independent and unbiased manner.
The President recalled PACE’s attachement to the territorial integrity of Georgia and said he hoped that improved relations between Georgia and Russia would help establish a climate in which solutions could be found to the conflicts in South Ossetia and Abkhazia. He called on all parties to abstain from taking unilateral measures, as that might revive tensions on the Administrative Boundary Line.
“We acknowledge the efforts made by the Georgian authorities to meet the needs of the many displaced persons, but their humanitarian situation is still a cause for concern,” said the President, underlining the need to find a way of ensuring that the Assembly’s rapporteur on the humanitarian consequences of the war between Georgia and Russia, Tina Acketoft, could travel to South Ossetia and Abkhazia. “I attach particular importance to this matter and I will continue to do my utmost to continue the dialogue with all the parties concerned to ensure that our rapporteur can carry out her work,” he said.
Finally, the President welcomed Georgia’s European and transatlantic orientation and said that PACE would support it in its move towards European integration. He hoped that the Association Agreement with the European Union could be finalised in time for the European Summit in Vilnius in November 2013.
Discussion about this post