Day: June 27, 2024

EU representation in Georgia

The European Union representation in Georgia has released a statement urging the ruling party “Georgian Dream” to return to the path of the European Union.

“Today marks 10 years of signing the EU-Georgia Association Agreement, a partnership milestone & a reminder that the European Union firmly stands with Georgian people’s aspiration for a future in the EU. The Georgian government should recommit to the EU path. Georgia’s rightful place is in the EU but Georgia will not progress on the EU path if there is no change in the course of action,” the statement reads.

Additionally, Rikard Jozwiak, chief editor of Radio Liberty Europe’s Brussels bureau, wrote on social network X:

“There is nothing about measures against Georgia in the draft conclusions of the EU summit, but there is the following: The Council of Europe calls on the Georgian authorities to clarify their intentions, change the current course of action, which threatens Georgia’s path to the EU and effectively halts the country’s accession process.”

At a press conference held on June 24 in Brussels, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell stated that, in the opinion of most EU foreign ministers, the Georgian government is distancing the country from the European Union. If the government does not change its policy, Georgia’s progress towards EU membership will not develop.

According to Borrell, due to the adoption of the “foreign agents” law, political contacts with the Georgian authorities will be reduced, support for the government will be frozen, and lines of European credit financing will be reviewed.

Borrell reiterated that the adoption of the “foreign agents” law is driving Georgia further away from the European Union instead of bringing it closer.

EU representation in Georgia

“Over the past month, Iran has announced steps to further expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible peaceful purpose,” Blinken said. “We remain committed to never letting Iran obtain a nuclear weapon, and we are prepared to use all elements of national power to ensure that outcome.”

Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Thursday’s action imposes sanctions on three companies based in the United Arab Emirates the U.S. accused of being involved in the transport of Iranian petroleum or petrochemical products, as well as 11 associated vessels.

Earlier this month, the Group of Seven advanced industrialized economies warned Iran against advancing its nuclear enrichment program, and members said they would be ready to enforce new measures if Tehran were to transfer ballistic missiles to Russia.

Iran rebuked the statement, calling on the G7 to distance itself from “destructive policies of the past,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani.

Earlier in June, the United Nations nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation Board of Governors passed a resolution calling on Iran to step up cooperation with the watchdog and reverse its recent barring of inspectors.

Iran is enriching uranium to up to 60% purity — close to the 90% of weapons grade — and has enough material enriched to that level, if enriched further, for three nuclear weapons, according to an IAEA yardstick.

Western powers say there is no credible civilian reason for that. Iran says its aims are entirely peaceful, but officials have recently said it could change its “nuclear doctrine” if it is attacked or its existence was threatened by arch-foe Israel. That has prompted alarm at the IAEA and in Western capitals.