The Ambassadors of the EU countries warned the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia about the consequences of the adoption of the law on foreign agents

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Read: 714     14:00     02 Март 2023    

The ambassadors of 19 EU countries and the head of the EU Mission in Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky discussed the planned adoption of the law on foreign agents with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili and representatives of the Committee on International Relations.

"It was a difficult conversation," Gerchinsky told reporters after the meeting.

"For our part, we clearly stated that this initiative does not comply with the norms and values of the European Union, and once again stated that this initiative contradicts at least two of the 12 recommendations for obtaining EU candidate status," the ambassador said.

According to him, in response, the participants of the meeting heard from the Speaker of the parliament "arguments about the need to adopt this law in Georgia."

"The conversation will continue… We will be watching very closely and hope that the initiative will not become law", Gerchinsky said.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili claimed after the meeting that the adoption of the law on foreign agents is a response to the request of the people of Georgia for access to information. The Speaker of the parliament said that now the discussion on the bill has been brought to the point of absurdity and "there are attempts to brand it in advance".

"We told them (the EU ambassadors) that we would send both bills to the Venice Commission and wait for the conclusion. Meanwhile, I hope that civil society, instead of stigmatizing and tabooing the discussion itself, will participate", Papuashvili said.

In response to the question whether the new law will prevent Georgia from obtaining the status of a candidate for EU membership, Papuashvili replied: "I don't think so".

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The Ambassadors of the EU countries warned the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia about the consequences of the adoption of the law on foreign agents

2023/03/4343-1677740218.jpg
Read: 715     14:00     02 Март 2023    

The ambassadors of 19 EU countries and the head of the EU Mission in Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky discussed the planned adoption of the law on foreign agents with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili and representatives of the Committee on International Relations.

"It was a difficult conversation," Gerchinsky told reporters after the meeting.

"For our part, we clearly stated that this initiative does not comply with the norms and values of the European Union, and once again stated that this initiative contradicts at least two of the 12 recommendations for obtaining EU candidate status," the ambassador said.

According to him, in response, the participants of the meeting heard from the Speaker of the parliament "arguments about the need to adopt this law in Georgia."

"The conversation will continue… We will be watching very closely and hope that the initiative will not become law", Gerchinsky said.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili claimed after the meeting that the adoption of the law on foreign agents is a response to the request of the people of Georgia for access to information. The Speaker of the parliament said that now the discussion on the bill has been brought to the point of absurdity and "there are attempts to brand it in advance".

"We told them (the EU ambassadors) that we would send both bills to the Venice Commission and wait for the conclusion. Meanwhile, I hope that civil society, instead of stigmatizing and tabooing the discussion itself, will participate", Papuashvili said.

In response to the question whether the new law will prevent Georgia from obtaining the status of a candidate for EU membership, Papuashvili replied: "I don't think so".

newsgeorgia.ge





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