The Free Democrats are fully committed to Georgia's European future - Main contents
The ALDE Group in the European Parliament today held an exchange of views with two representatives of our sister party in Georgia, The Free Democrats.
Mr. Irakli Alasania, the Chairman and founder of the party and Mr. Viktor Dolidze, chairman of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament (Photo), clearly outlined their efforts towards the European integration of Georgia, but also warned about the remaining obstacles.
After meeting the Georgian Free Democrats, the President of the ALDE Group, Guy Verhofstadt, said:
"I appreciate the close cooperation with Irakli Alasania, Chairman of our ALDE sister party Georgian Free Democrats. My group is strongly committed to support Georgia on its way to political association and economic integration with the EU. On this path, it is important that the government advances with the reform of the judiciary and ensures that trials are fair and free from political interference."
MEP Hans van Baalen (VVD, The Netherlands), the ALDE Group's Foreign Affairs Coordinator, called on the EU to support Georgia's European future:
"Russia has not only occupied the Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but now signed integration agreements with both occupied provinces. This is a further step to annexation. Putin herewith puts in place further measures to try to cripple his sovereign neighbours, such as Moldova (Transnistria) and Ukraine (Donbas region and Crimea). The EU must support Georgia in its integration policy. An important step is to provide a visa-free regime with the EU."
MEP, Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Liberal's Movement of Lithuania), ALDE Group Vice-President, referred to the unsolved judiciary problems of Georgia:
"As true friends of Georgia we cannot keep our eyes closed on recent worrying domestic developments, in what is an important partner country. The list of people in pre-trial detention is far too long: former Prime Minister, Merabishvili, former mayor of Tbilisi, Ugulava and five persons from the Ministry of Defence are among them. It is equally unacceptable to observe the former or current prime ministers delivering public comments about the on-going investigations, taking sides and proclaiming who is to blame. Such actions are contrary to important internationally recognised (fair trial) standards."