WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 The Messenger P3 “Impartial, Informative, Insightful” GEL 3.00 The #047 (4851) MessengerWEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 WWW.MESSENGER.COM.GE Opinion & Analysis President of the European Council The government refuses appoints Christian Danielsson to compromise, opposition bloc relies on protests and to mediate the crisis sanctions from western partners FULL STORY ON Page 2 Politics US ambassador Degnan meets PM Garibashvili FULL STORY ON Page 2 Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into covert audio recordings involving PM FULL STORY ON Page 3 Christian Danielsson BY VERONIKA MALINBOYM the opposition bloc. ropean Union to Georgia, Carl Hartzel: Mr. Danielsson will be traveling to The official statement released by the “Mr. Danielsson will mediate the re- Georgia in the coming days to engage n March 9, President of the Euro European Council states that Christian launched dialogue among Georgia’s po- with all stakeholders to the process”. Opean Council Charles Michel an- Danielsson will be traveling to Georgia litical parties, working closely with the The press release also notes that Presi- nounced that Christian Danielsson in the nearest future in order to “medi- Ambassador of the European Union to dent Michel and High Representative would take on the role of an official me- ate the relaunched dialogue” between Georgia, Carl Hartzell, with the aim to Borell encourage all parties to fully com- diator of the EU-backed negotiations Georgia’s political parties, in close coop- overcome the current political tensions mit to the dialogue for the sake of the between the Georgian government and eration with the Ambassador of the Eu- in Georgia. country’s Democratic and European in- tegration aspirations: “President Michel and the High Rep- resentative Borrell encourage all politi- cal actors in Georgia to commit fully to the dialogue in a constructive spirit and with a view to pursuing mutually agree- able outcomes, in the interest of a stable, democratic, and reform-oriented Georgia, able to successfully advance on its pro- European path.” The appointment of Christian Danielsson came shortly after President Charles Michel’s visit to Georgia earlier this month. Upon his arrival on March 1, President Michel arranged the first round of dialogue between the representatives of the Georgian government and the mem- bers of the opposition bloc. The meeting ended with the drawing of a draft agenda for further negotiations, as well as six main issues that need to be addressed in order to solve the ongoing crisis. Christian Danielsson has previously worked as a permanent representative for Sweden, after which he was appointed as secretary-general of the European Com- mission in 2011. He then took the role of the Director-General for Enlargement in 2013, before taking on the office of the Director-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations. As of today, Christian Danielsson is serving as the Head of the European Commission’s Rep- The Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia, Carl Hartzel resentation in Sweden. P2 Opinion & Analysis The Messenger WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 The government refuses to compromise, opposition bloc relies on protests and sanctions from western partners BY MALKHAZ MATSABERIDZE ister Irakli Garibashvili is due political system of Georgia. Once elections. Opponents of the gov- to be falsified, early elections to submit a report on the Asso- again it becomes clear why Geor- ernment explained the tighten- will be called.” The opposition n March 1, a meeting be- ciation Agreement to Brussels. gia is included in the category of ing of Gharibashvili’s tone by believes that “suspicious” docu- Otween the authorities and A 6-point plan was drawn up countries with a hybrid regime Bidzina Ivanishvili’s interven- ments will have already been the opposition bloc, mediated by during a meeting with Charles in various international tion who demanded the continu- corrected, noting there is no use the President of the Council of Michel. It lists the issues that rankings. It is also clear that the ation of the “strict” policy. in creating such a commission. Europe Charles Michel, was held were discussed during the meet- implementation of some of these After Charles Michel’s depar- A compromise on the part of aiming at reaching an agree- ing and which should be contin- points takes time. However, ture, the opposition also made a the opposition on the issue of ment. However, the next day the ued. These points have been some can be done as soon as pos- mistake by staging a picket by early elections is to hold a plebi- government returned to confron- made public in the media: 1. sible as a sign that the dialogue the parliament building. The scite during the local self-gov- tational rhetoric, which virtually Electoral reform; 2. Rule of law has successfully launched. Such government immediately ernment elections. The plebiscite precludes the possibility of find- and judicial reform, including points are, firstly, the release of blamed the opposition for not would find the people’s opinion ing any common ground. the appointment of judges to the political prisoners appointed by being constructive after which on whether they want snap elec- The protracted political crisis Supreme Court, elections to the the opposition, in particular Nika the opposition bloc immediately tions or not. The government in Georgia since the October 31, High Council of Justice, and the Melia and Giorgi Rurua, and changed the format of the pro- considers the idea of a plebi- 2020 elections has long been a strengthening of the fight secondly, the start of negotia- tests so that the ruling team scite unfounded and rules it out. concern for Georgia’s western against corruption; 3) Political tions on early parliamentary would not use it as a reason to So far, there are no signs of a partners. The arrest of UNM’s justice, in particular, resolving elections. If these two points are disrupt the talks. constructive dialogue promised Nika Melia, with the incursion the issue of prisoners; 4) Redis- met, the boycotted opposition The main responsibility for to Charles Michel. The opposi- of police forces into the party’s tribution of forces in the Parlia- vows to enter parliament. the successful start of the nego- tion intends to continue the pro- headquarters, was a milestone to ment, which includes a fair dis- During the meeting, mediated tiations lies with the govern- tests in a way that will give the which the western partners re- tribution of responsibilities and by Charles Michel, attention was ment, which must show that it government no reason to accuse sponded with serious criticism. roles and responsibilities in the paid to the softened tone of Prime wants to reach an agreement. the opposition bloc of being de- The EU has taken on the task Parliament; 5. Consider the pos- Minister Irakli Gharibashvili, However, the opposition bloc structive. of resolving the conflict between sibility of early parliamentary Garibashvili had toned down his should also take responsibility. According to the opposition, if the government and the opposi- elections and prepare for local aggressive tone regarding According to experts, the gov- the agreement is not reached, the tion. The visit of the President elections; 6. Continuation of “criminal” and “destructive” op- ernment will have to release Georgian authorities and Bidzina of the Council of Europe Charles mediation and verification of the position, which had previously Nika Melia, which will be seen Ivanishvili, who is behind it, will Michel to Georgia on March 1-2 achieved progress at the meet- made the dialogue impossible. as a defeat for the government’s be subjected to sanctions. The was an attempt to do so. He ing of the EU-Georgia Associa- However, on the second day of image. As for the opposition’s opposition bloc believes that pro- managed to get the government tion Council. Charles Michel’s departure from main demand on holding early tests and possible sanctions from and the opposition to meet and The issues to be addressed by Georgia, Gharibashvili returned elections, the government’s po- the west will be decisive in reach- get their consent to resume the the government and the opposi- to the old rhetoric and spoke sition today is to set up a parlia- ing an agreement. dialogue and reach an agreement tion mean the recognition of se- again about the “red lines”, one mentary commission of inquiry with tangible progress by March rious shortcomings in the demo- of which is the opposition’s de- to study the CEC documents, (Translated from Georgian 13, when Georgian Prime Min- cratic functioning of the current mand for early parliamentary and “if at least 1% will be found by Mariam Mchedlidze) US ambassador Degnan meets PM Garibashvili “We want the political crisis to subside quickly,” said US Ambassador Gharibashvili and the Georgian Dream stated earlier that Melia violated Kelly Degnan, who was facilitating the election talks between the the law and that everyone is equal before Law. parties along with the EU ambassador. BY NATALIA KOCHIASHVILI meeting with the Prime Minis- going political processes in Geor- of the country. According to her, tant challenges it faces, includ- ter of Georgia Irakli gia in a constructive way via dia- the discussion was very produc- ing restoring economic status. he Ambassador of the Gharibashvili on March 9. logues. tive. Degnan emphasized that The United States will continue T United States of America to At the meeting, the officials The meeting also focused on the United States and Georgia to support Georgia so that the Georgia Kelly Degnan held a discussed issues on the agenda the security situation in the re- have a comprehensive agenda country can launch an economy, of Georgia-US bilateral coopera- gion and the harsh humanitar- and that it is important for both respond to the new coronavirus tion.