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GEORGIAN BULLETIN

GEORGIAN BULLETIN. Monthly Issue N° 5 September 2010. Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Mission of Georgia to the European Union www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge. President of Georgia attended the 65 th Session of the UN General Assembly

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GEORGIAN BULLETIN

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  1. GEORGIAN BULLETIN Monthly Issue N° 5 September 2010 Embassy of Georgia to the Kingdom of Belgium and Grand Duchy of LuxembourgMission of Georgia to the European Union www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge • President of Georgia attended the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly • President of Georgia met the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton • NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to Visit Georgia • The extraordinary sitting of the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Draft Constitutional Law "On Introduction of the Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of Georgia”. AGENDA 23/09/10 President of Georgia attended the 65th Session of UN General Assembly 24/09/10 President of Georgia met the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton 23-24/09/10 President of Georgia holds meetings in New York 15-16/09/10 President of Georgia attended the European People's Party’s Summit in Brussels 30-1/09-10/10 NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to Visit Georgia 14/09/10 The tenth meeting of the Georgia-EU cooperation Committee held in Brussels 24/09/10 The extraordinary sitting of the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Draft Constitutional Law "On Introduction of the Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of Georgia”. PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA MIKHEIL SAAKASHVILl ATTENDED THE 65th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY President of Georgia addressed to the General Assembly on 23th of September. President Saakashvili used his speech at the UN General Assembly on September 23 to, as he put it, "promote a vision for a free, stable and united Caucasus" and to call on Russia to be part of, what he called, an "ongoing transformation" of the Caucasus region.He said that two years after "a full-scale invasion" by Russia, "Georgia is back as a laboratory for political reform and social transformation" with a clear objective "to create a more institutionalized system of liberal democratic governance." Saakashvili said Russia invaded Georgia two years ago, "ethnically cleansed Georgian regions and illegally occupied" them with an objective "to destroy the Georgian laboratory of reforms" and to prevent the entire region from changing through following Georgia's path. "Today, however, change is possible," Saakashvili said. "In fact, change is already taking place" in the Caucasus region, which, he said, had suffered from "division, injustice, conflict, colonization and violence". PAGE 1

  2. GEORGIAN BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge The people of the region, he said, were deeply tolerant, but governments and authorities created artificial divisions and "erected walls nobody could cross." "I came here today to tell you that these times are vanishing, that the dream of unity and peace is possible," he said. "I strongly believe that a common market, shared interests and political and economic interdependence will one day give birth to a united Caucasus. That is what I am calling for today." "We might belong to different states and live on different side of the [Caucasus] mountains, but in terms of human and cultural space, there is no North and South Caucasus, there is one Caucasus, that belongs to Europe and will one day join the European family of free nations, following the Georgian path," he said. "Our unity would not be directed against anyone and we will not aspire to change any borders." He said that "the historical move towards Caucasian unity" should start with projects in energy, education and cultural fields and the civil society sphere. Saakashvili called on the Russian authorities to be part of the process of transformation and treat its neighbors as "partners and not vassals.“ "You face a choice," he said addressing the Russian leadership. "Either you take a major part in this ongoing transformation... or this transformation will happen without you.“ He also added that he wanted Russia "as a partner not as an enemy." For that reason, he said, Tbilisi supported U.S. policy of reset and EU's policy of engagement with Russia. He also said that Russia should care more about its North Caucasus region, "which is exploding" rather than about Georgia's foreign policy orientation or about undermining Georgia's development. Saakashvili invited Russian authorities to come into Georgia "to understand how a post-Soviet society can turn into a European one." In his speech Saakashvili touched upon Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's recent key theme - modernization of Russia's resource-dependent economy and in this context he also mentioned the Kremlin's battle with jailed oil tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is now serving an eight-year sentence and faces up to 22 more years in prison if found guilty in the new trial. "Modernization without freedom is not sustainable and you cannot hope to diversify and develop your economy when you send your most successful businessmen to the Gulag, like Mikheil Khodorkovsky. Computers are not enough, if you don't have free minds to use them. So let us free our minds from our common Soviet past in order to build a common future," he said. Three Russian diplomats in the hall were listening to Saakashvili's speech. Addressing to Abkhazians and Ossetians, Saakashvili reiterated that Georgia wanted to resolve conflicts only through peaceful means and said: "We will protect your rights, your culture, your history." "Rather than succumb to annexation by the Russian Empire, we invite you to build together with us a multicultural and multi-ethnic society that would be a regional model for tolerance and respect," he said. "I dream about the day when an Abkhaz or Ossetian citizen of Georgia... will become President of a reunited, democratic and European Georgia." In his speech Saakashvili called on Nicaragua, Venezuela and Nauru to reverse their decision recognizing Abkhazia and South Ossetia. "It is never too late to overturn a bad policy... Imagine how uncomfortable these three isolated leaders from faraway countries will be when Moscow itself chooses to comply with international law and withdraw its troops? Because, ladies and gentlemen, that day will come," Saakashvili said. He said Russia, which "claimed a military victory in 2008 now face a diplomatic and political defeat." "In Moscow, the occupation and annexation will soon be debated. They are in fact already debated in the corridors of the Kremlin," Saakashvili said. He also said the changes Georgia was undergoing through were irreversible and would survive his presidency, which ends in 2013. The Georgian people, he said, would "mightily resist any attempts to reverse these changes - no matter if those attempts come from inside or from abroad." Addressing the international community he called for help in security peace in Georgia and the region. "If there is clear support from the international community, I am convinced that a lasting peace can be secured in the Caucasus," Saakashvili said. 24/09/10 http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22696 The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili met the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton The President of Georgia Mikheil saakashvili met the US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The meeting that lasted more than 50 minutes was held by the initiative of the US. PAGE 2

  3. GEORGIAN BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge The parts discussed the issues of regional stability and integrity. One of the topic was the 6th  October meeting planned in Washington, during which the parts will talk about moving to new stage of the charter of strategic partnership. Despite this, Georgian officials marked new initiative, which envisages deepening bilateral cooperation in economic, education and health sectors. Attention was also payed to problematic issue of the occupied territories. During the meeting the government and the President of Georgia expressed gratitude towards the US leadreship. As it proves Georgia's supportive position to Russia. From the Georgian side the meeting was attended by the Minister of External Affairs Grigol Vashadze and the Permanent Mission member of Georgia in the UN Alexandre Lomaia. 24/09/10 http://www.president.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=249&info_id=5511 The Face-to-face Meeting between the Presidents of Georgia and Lithuania The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili held face-to-face meeting with the President of Lithuania Dalia Gribauskaite. At the beginning of the meeting the first person of Lithuania marked that the state supports sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. She underlined that her country is ready to continue supporting our state  in the process of integration of Georgia in Euro -Atlantic and EU structures. They also talked about peaceful dealing of the conflict in Georgia. The program was worked out by Georgia and it has strategic importance for our state. 23/10/09 http://www.president.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=249&info_id=5508 Bilateral meeting was held between Presidents of Georgia and Finland The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili met President of Finland Tarja Halonen in New York today. The two-way meeting was preceded to the OSCE summit in Astana which will take place in December. The Leaders of the two countries held a discussion on the future relations and cooperation, during which the President of Finland once again expressed support to Georgia. 22/09/10 http://www.president.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=249&info_id=5491 The President of Georgia has attended the meeting held by Bill Clinton The President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili attended the meeting held by the President of United States Bill Clinton 1993-2001. Mikheil Saakashvili was specifically invited to a reception detained with honor for the Country Leaders . The Event carried out in the Museum of Modern Art and was heeded by a different Country Leaders. Madeleine  Albright, the former Secretary of United States attended the Event. 23/09/10 http://www.president.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=249&info_id=5500 The President of Georgia visited Brussels On 15-16th of September, the President of Georgia - Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili visited Brussels. Together with the leaders of the various European countries, he attended the European People's Party’s Summit. During the visit was also held a working dinner between the President and members of the European Parliament. On 16th of September a business breakfast was held with the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the European People's Party, where the prospects of relations between  Georgia and  European Union were discussed. 16/09/10 http://belgium.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=223&info_id=8244 PAGE 3

  4. GEORGIAN BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge UN General Assembly adopted a resolution submitted by Georgia on the "Status of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia". On 7th of September 2010, the 64th plenary session of the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution submitted by Georgia on the "Status of the Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia, Georgia". The Resolution was passed by wider margin than in previous years (with 50 countries voting in favor, 17 - against and 86 abstentions. Last year's voting was: 48 in favor, 19 - against with 78 abstentions). Recent vote marks the third straight year that the UN General Assembly has invoked the norms and principles of international law to defend the right of every IDP and refugee to return to the places of the original residence. The Resolution stresses that the right of safe and dignified return of all internally displaced persons and refugees and their descendants, regardless of ethnicity, to their homes in Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region is unchallenged and reiterates the need to respect the property rights of all displaced. By condemning forced demographic changes caused by the conflicts on the territory of Georgia, the Resolution reaffirms the unacceptability of ethnic cleansing that had taken place in these regions since the beginning of the 1990s. This Resolution also reiterates call for the need to develop concrete timetable for the return of all internally displaced persons and refugees to their homes throughout Georgia. The Resolution underlines the urgent need for unimpeded access of humanitarian organizations to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region. General Assembly also calls upon the participants of the Geneva Discussions to intensify their efforts aimed at finding solutions for the safe and dignified return of the IDPs and refugess. The Resolution continued the reporting system of the Secretary General on the status of the IDPs and refugees from Abkhazia, Georgia and the Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, Georgia. Next report of the Secretary General will be forthcoming in 2011. 8/09/10 For the full text see http://mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=59&info_id=12652 NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to Visit Georgia NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen will pay a working visit to Georgia on September 30, 2010. The State Minister for Euro-Atlantic Integration, Vice Premier George Baramidze will meet him at Tbilisi international airport.   NATO Secretary General will start his meetings on October 1 and will visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs first. After meeting Grigol Vashadze he will visit the Ministry of Defense, where he plans to deliver a speech. Meetings with the Chairman of Parliament David Bakradze and the Prime Minister Nick Gilauri are on the agenda afterwards. Later on that day Anders Fogh Rasmussen will open NATO Liaison Office together with George Baramidze. A tête-à-tête meeting and a joint press conference of the President of Georgia and NATO Secretary General are planned at President's Palace. Anders Fogh Rasmussen will depart from Georgia on the same day.  30/09/10 http://www.president.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=226&info_id=5520 Information on the tenth meeting of the Georgia-EU cooperation Committee held in Brussels Tenth meeting of the Georgia-EU cooperation Committee was held in Brussels, on 14 September 2010, at the level of deputy ministers, in the frames of the Georgia-EU political dialogue. From the Georgian side the meeting was chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Davit Jalaghania and from the European side - by Gunnar Viegand, Director of Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia of the European Commission's Directorate-General for External Relations. The meeting was also attended by representatives of various ministries of Georgia and the Directorate General. The sides discussed the issues of Georgia-EU relationship, priority trends and future prospects of cooperation. Attention was focused on the issues of cooperation in the bilateral as well as multilateral formats of European Neighbourhood Policy and Eastern partnership; PAGE 4

  5. GEORGIAN BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge It is considered to add the chapter on the local self governance, which will create guarantees for the independence and effective functioning of the local self governments. By the Draft of the changes the other essential legislative issues related to the state organization the will be newly regulated. David Bakradze, the Chairman of the Steering Commission on the Universal Public Consideration of the Draft Constitutional Law presented the report on the works of the Commission before the voting. According to him, during more than two months the Commission has held up to 30 meetings in various cities and regions with the representative  of society, political groups and experts. "The major goal of the meetings was to consider the opinions of various groups of the society. The part of the proposals expressed has been already taken into account, among them the opinions expressed at the meetings with the opposition. We will continue discussions in the parliamentary format on the part of the proposals on which we did not agree. According to his assessment, the ongoing constitutional process is very important because it determines the future political landscape of Georgia, the rules of  the political game. The Chairman of the Parliament noted that the consultations with the opposition regarding the constitutional changes started in Spring 2009 and every interested person had the possibility to  participate  therein during one year and a half . According to him,  "We decided to establish a neutral, academic structure where every politician would have the opportunity of cooperation and this was our suggestion to all political powers. The part of the non-parliamentary opposition participated solely on the final level , some of them took part in the works of the commission. I thank all political powers which took part in this important process”. The Draft Constitutional Law was presented to the sitting by Zurab Adeishvili, the Minister of Justice of Georgia. According to his statement, the presented Draft Constitution is banned. It envisages powerful Parliament and the executive Government, maintenance of the Institute of the President, which will be balanced by reinforcement of judiciary. According to him, by the new Draft the Government will be responsible only before the Parliament. The Government will be formed solely by the Parliament and only the Parliament will have the right to dissolve the Government. The rights of the minority will be strengthened at the Parliament.    Particularly, the investigation commission and other temporary commissions may be initiated with one-fifth instead of the quarter. process of talks regarding the Association Agreement, possibility of creation of the free and comprehensive free trade zone, simplification of visa regime and its further phased liberalization as well as the possibilities of deepening cooperation between Georgia and the European Union in the fields of transport and energy. Discussions centered on the state of the rule of law, democracy and governance, human rights and fundamental freedoms in Georgia. The Georgian side provided the European side with exhaustive information on the reforms and measures carried out or planned in the aforesaid fields during the last year. At the centerpiece of discussions was the state of security and stability in Georgia. The Georgian side emphasized the importance of further intensifying the European Union's role in strengthening security in the country, enhancing the scope of the EU Monitoring Mission's activity, effectively conducting Geneva talks, as well as implementing the European Union's non-recognition policy. At the tenth meeting of the Georgia-EU cooperation Committee, subcommittees of Georgia-EU cooperation were set up: 1) on the issues of transport, energy and environmental protection and 2) on the issues of employment, social security, public health, training, education and youth, culture, audiovisual policy, science, technologies and innovations. 14/10/10 http://belgium.mfa.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=223&info_id=8216 The Extraordinary Sitting of the Parliamentof Georgia The extraordinary sitting of the Parliament of Georgia adopted the Draft Constitutional Law "On Introduction of the Changes and Amendments to the Constitution of Georgia”. According to the Draft Law, the powers will be newly distributed among the branches of the Government, the constitutional guarantees for the protection of the private property and the independence of the judiciary will be strengthened. PAGE 5

  6. GEORGIAN BULLETIN SEPTEMBER 2010 www.belgium.mfa.gov.ge The Minister of Justice noted that declaration of the non-confidence vote to the Government will take place only in case the new candidate will be approved at the office of the Prime Minister. According to his statement, the above-mentioned occasion will foster the stable functioning of the Government.  The President will not be entitled to abolish the acts of the Government, The new institute will be introduced: the mechanism of countersignature that will underpin the balance between the banches of executive power. According to Zurab Adeishvili, the Institute of the President will remain as significant institute that derives from the mixed government model. The President will still be elected directly. He will be the Head of the State and the Commander-in-Chief of the Military; he will appoint the Chief of the Joint Force Headquarters and other military chiefs, will lead the Security Council and will have the role of the arbiter in case of  the political crisis. Many rights of the President will be balanced with the institute of countersignature. After delivering report, the Minister of Justice responded to the questions of the MPs. According to him, the Draft Constitution will enter into force after the elections of 2013. As regards the fact the questions about the possibility for the President to be superior to the party, he stated that the ban of the President on being the member of the party will cause refusal of the parties to participate in the presidential elections because the elections are direct and behind thereof there a political party which in case of victory takes responsibilities.When the issue of feasibility of appointing the judges without terms was commented, the Minister of Justice noted that the corresponding model is functioning in the many countries of the Eastern Europe, and in Germany, where the Judges are appointed for the trial period before they are appointed for the termless period. In his answers to the MPs Zurab Adeishvili noted that he considers as possible to consider the proposals of the opposition to the Draft Constitution regarding depriving the right of  the legislative initiative to the President. After the speech of the Minister of Justice the MPs addressed the session with the speeches. Levan Vepkhvadze, the member of the "Christian-Democrats’ Faction noted that the agreement was reached upon 8 issues and if the majority will express readiness for the negotiations regarding the other issues, the faction will support the Draft with the first hearing. According to him, the agreed issues are as follows: sustaining the concept of the organic law in the Constitution, appointment of the Government by the Parliament, the issue of the legislative initiative of the President and the right of extraordinary consideration, the article on the property,  the issue of the General Headquarters, the right of the territorial units concerning questioning the executive bodies. According to Pavle Kublashvili, the Chairman of the Committee on Legal Issues, with the new Constitution the right of the President is limited to the veto right. According to him, the parliamentary majority is ready to conduct the consultations with the opposition on the interesting questions for them during the second consideration of the Draft. The "Christian-Democrats” addressed the sitting with the initiative of electing the Head of Adjara Automatons Republic. Giorgi Targamadze, the Leader of the Movement raised this issue. "When the state chooses the way of the parliamentary republic, where every self governing unit may have the elected ruler, it is impossible for the Chairman of the Autonomous Republic to be appointed by  the President or the Prime Minister. We demand that the Chairman of Adjara Autonomous Republic should be elected by the population or the Supreme Council”,- Giorgi Targamadze stated. Petre Tsiskarishvili, the Leader of the Parliamentary majority stated that the constitutional reform is a real step forward and the historical reform that will reinforce Georgian statehood. The Leader of the parliamentary majority responded to those representatives of the opposition which consider that the Parliament should wait the report of the Venice Commission and adopt changes only after that.According to Petre Tsiskarishivli, the Constitutional Commission and the Parliament closely cooperated with the Venice Commission and the meetings with them were held as in Tbilisi as well as in Strasbourg and Berlin conference " We should not forget that this Constitution is adopted for Georgia and the people of Georgia”,- Petre tsiskarishvili stated. According to the assessment of the leader of the majority, in Georgia there will be formed such kind of state organization as in the developed European countries. "Besides that, this will foster Georgia’s long-term development, currently this is a very serious diplomatic message to the whole Europe and the whole world. What Georgia follows and how it plans to develop”, -Petre Tsiskarishvili noted. 24/09/10 http://www.parliament.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=63&info_id=29113 PAGE 6

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