Day: December 13, 2023

On December 13, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on enlargement policy, calling on the European Council to grant Georgia EU candidate status at its meeting on December 14-15. The resolution also urges the Council to open accession negotiations with Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“MEPs welcome the interest and political will from so many countries to join the EU and acknowledge the serious efforts being made to meet the requirements for membership,” reads the EP press release. MEPs stress that the EU must set clear deadlines for candidate countries to complete EU accession negotiations by the end of this decade and ensure that there is no fast-track for membership and that the Copenhagen criteria are met in each country’s case.

MEPs stress the strategic importance of enlargement as a key geopolitical tool for the EU amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They strongly criticize Hungarian Prime Minister Orban’s remarks on Ukraine’s accession talks and his policy shift on Kosovo. MEPs warn that Orban’s statements are hindering EU enlargement and raising concerns about Hungary’s EU presidency in July 2024. The resolution urges concurrent EU reforms during enlargement and proposes qualified majority voting for the seamless integration of new members in foreign policy and relevant accession areas.

The MEPs also welcome “the willingness of the Government of Armenia to come closer to the European Union” and the new Growth Plan for Western Balkans.

Also Read:

• 13/11/2023 – Georgia’s Progress toward EU Candidate Status: the European Commission’s Assessment

The ruling Georgian Dream party has enlisted the services of Israeli spin doctors Moshe Klughaft and Miri Michaeli, co-founders of ACT News, an AI-generated news company, to prepare for the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections in Georgia.

Klughaft, an experienced election strategist and campaign manager, previously collaborated with Georgian Dream in 2018, contributing to Salome Zurabishvili’s victory in the presidential runoff. While his involvement in the 2021 local government elections was reported, it remains unconfirmed by the Georgian Dream party. The Georgian opposition has linked Klughaft to Georgian Dream’s aggressive campaign tactics.

“I am happy to be back in Georgia and witness its significant development in both the economy and its approach to the European Union, especially in maintaining peace during these times of global unrest,” Klughaft stated, as quoted by the Georgian Dream party. He emphasized the importance of not only accomplishing substantial tasks but also ensuring public awareness, pledging assistance in this regard in the upcoming year.

Klughaft’s election expertise extends beyond Georgia, as he played a key role in securing a landslide victory for the Romanian Social Democrats in the 2016 general elections. His involvement spans elections in Israel, Austria, Germany, Italy, and Kosovo. Recognized for his influence, Forbes listed him among the most influential individuals in Israel under 40, and the Jerusalem Post included him among the 50 most influential Jews globally in 2020. Klughaft and his partners have advised Israeli Prime Ministers Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett, along with Ministers of Defense, Education, Interior, Economy, and Justice.

Miri Michaeli, an Israeli investigative journalist with 17 years of television experience, is also part of the team. Her expertise includes lecturing on communication topics in the AI world, moderating conferences, events, and gala evenings in Hebrew and English for organizations and companies worldwide, according to her personal website.

Also Read:

• 20/11/2018 – CSOs: Saakashvili Remarks ‘Anti-Semitic’

The Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili wrote to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, representing the Spanish EU Presidency, and other European leaders.

PM Garibashvili expressed gratitude for the recognition of Georgia’s European perspective in June 2022 and the Commission’s recommendation to the European Council to grant Georgia the EU candidacy. He says his Government is fully committed and determined to continue working on the necessary reforms.

Garibashvili argues that Georgia has made significant progress towards meeting EU standards, including the conclusion of an Association Agreement, a Free Trade Agreement, visa-free travel, and enhanced trade and security cooperation. He also notes that Georgia has responded positively to the European Commission’s 12 recommendations for further reform and has begun implementing the new recommendations outlined in the November 8 Communication.

Emphasizing that Georgia sees the EU’s enlargement policy as “a geostrategic investment in peace, stability, and prosperity in the whole of Europe,” PM highlights Georgia’s geostrategic importance, saying that the country is located in a “heavily contested region” and can play a key role in promoting peace, stability, democratic development, and cooperation within the region. He also emphasizes Georgia’s potential to contribute to European connectivity, offering alternative routes for energy, freight transportation, and trade in the Black Sea.

PM Garibashvili sees granting candidate status to Georgia as a “turning point for Georgia’s European future” and an “additional impetus for establishing lasting peace in Georgia.” He calls for the continued support of European leaders in ensuring the peaceful reintegration of the occupied Georgian territories and the reconciliation of divided communities, saying that a “strong engagement of the EU and its member states will be critical.”

He concludes by reiterating that “the future of Georgia lies in the EU, and there is no alternative to it.” PM expresses hope that the European Council will take a “strategic and forward-looking decision” to grant Georgia candidate status, firmly anchoring the country within the EU family of democracies.

Also Read:

• 13/11/2023 – Georgia’s Progress toward EU Candidate Status: the European Commission’s Assessment
• 08/11/2023 – Prime Minister’s Press Conference on EC Recommendation related to Georgia’s EU Candidacy

On December 12, Inal Ardzinba, who handles foreign relations of Sokhumi’s occupation administration, began his visit to Syria, where he met with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to discuss cooperation. Sokhumi reportedly plans to open a “consulate” in Damascus.

“Abkhazia and Syria are fighting for a fairer world order – multipolarity. We represent the global majority – this is more than 85% of the world’s population. These are people who do not want to live under the diktat of the West,” – Ardzinba told the Syrian media.

The Syrian Foreign Minister reportedly backed Ardzinba’s decision to banish USAID and also noted that Syria is “working to help” the occupation authorities to expand its “contacts in the Middle East,” in accordance signed memorandum. Syrian Foreign Ministry is also reportedly offering to train young cadre from Ardzinba’s office.

FM Mekdad reportedly asked Ardzinba, a Kremlin insider, to help with establishing investment contacts between Syria and Russia, broaching the possibility of holding meetings in a trilateral format.

Reports say Ardzinba discussed “Israel’s airstrikes on Syria’s civilian infrastructure”, the need for “a ceasefire in Gaza,” and the international community’s responsibility to draw attention to the “humanitarian crisis in Gaza.”

Also read:

• 26/08/2022 – Syrian Foreign Minister Meets Bzhania
• 25/08/2022 – Syrian Foreign Minister Visiting Abkhazia
• 17/05/2021 – Abkhaz Leader Meets Syria’s Assad in Damascus

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