CoE Sec-Gen: Georgia’s CoE presidency 'is progressing well' [VIDEO]
In her remarks CoE Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric (R) noted that during the meeting with President Salome Zurabishvili, they discussed recent political developments in Georgia as well. Photo: Council of Europe/Facebook
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Secretary General of the Council of Europe (CoE) Marija Pejcinovic Buric said at a news briefing with Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili in Strasbourg earlier today that Georgia’s presidency of the CoE Committee of Ministers "is progressing well”.
I welcome all the works done by Georgia to promote and strengthen our values and standards and to raise awareness of the Council of Europe in the country but also in the South Caucasus area as a whole”, she stated.
In her remarks Buric noted that during the meeting with President Zurabishvili, they discussed recent political developments in Georgia as well.
Watch the full news briefing of President Salome Zurabishvili and CoE Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric:
Buric considers it positive that all political forces in Georgia “acknowledge the need to improve the electoral system in order to strengthen its proportionality”.
We hope that the political dialogue between parties will yield results”, she said adding that the CoE stands ready to assist Georgia as necessary.
Secretary General Buric also said that the CoE also closely follows the appointment of Supreme Court judges in Georgia. She then stressed the importance to implement the opinion developed by the CoE’s Venice Commission last year.
Reiterating the CoE’s commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, Buric said she will continue to keep all the member states informed of human rights developments in the Russian occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) through her consolidated reports.
The confident-building measures of the Council of Europe reach out to people on the ground and in the conflict-affected areas, and seek to contribute to broader reconciliation process”, Buric said noting that the CoE is set to continue with these measures.
Welcoming the release of Georgian doctor Vazha Gaprindashili from Tskhinvali custody in late December, Marija Pejcinovic Buric underlined that the practice of detention of people crossing the administrative boundary line “should be stopped”.
Having become a member of the Council of Europe in April 1999, Georgia officially assumed the six-month presidency last November.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has stated at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that the next stage for Georgia is to become a full member of the international community by having a voice in global issues. She stated earlier today in Strasbourg that “Georgia has succeeded to turn itself from a post-soviet state, into an emerging, ever stronger and vibrant democracy.” She stated earlier today in Strasbourg that “Georgia has succeeded to turn itself from a post-soviet state, into an emerging, ever stronger and vibrant democracy.”
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has delivered his first speech at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as the head of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (CoE), stating that consolidated, international pressure against Russian illegal activities in Georgia and other countries must continue.“Situation in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali has become worse."
Georgian officials have joined in today’s celebration of the country’s assumption of the presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers earlier today. Prime Minister Giorgi Gakaria said in his address at the Freedom Square in downtown Tbilisi that Georgia has been part of the Council of Europe for 20 years now.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has received symbolic keys marking the official assumption of the presidency of the Council of Europe (CoE) Committee of Ministers in Strasbourg today.
United States Ambassador to the OSCE James Gilmore said in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council earlier today that “Georgia’s leadership of the important European organisation” demonstrates its contributions to the international community. "Foreign Minister [David] Zalkaliani, the United States warmly welcomes you to the Permanent Council as the representative of Georgia's Presidency of the Council of Europe”, he said.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani, who is visiting Vienna as the Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, met with OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger earlier today. Greminger said after the meeting that there is a close partnership between the OSCE and the CoE in a number of defined areas.
The recently adopted resolution of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which covers the period between January and December of 2019, has welcomed amendments which ‘reinforce parliamentary oversight in Georgia and political accountability of the executive.’PACE also welcomed “a broad agreement with all stakeholders’ about the adopted fourth wave of judicial reforms ‘with the aim of further strengthening the independence of the judiciary and efficiency of the administration of justice.’
Georgia as the Council of Europe (CoE) chair country has called for the renewal of the organization’s laws on human rights and environmental protection to make sanctions and obligations clearer and stronger against environmental and organised crimes.
President Salome Zurabishvili says that 'we might want to think about new steps to be taken and new positions to present with our partners or with Russia'. However, she states that these must not be the steps of concession or adoption to occupation. Delivering her annual speech at parliament earlier today, Zurabishvili said that any issue, which will not and should not be forcibly settled, ‘needs carriage, reason, advancement [through drawing red lines] and unity to be settled.’
Georgian Foreign Minister and Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe David Zalkaliani has paid tribute to all journalists ‘who are on the frontline and continue reporting during the ongoing crisis’ ahead of Press Freedom Day which will be marked on May 3.
Seven Georgian public schools have joined the Council of Europe Democratic Schools Network, reports the Ministry of Education, Science Culture, and Sports.