Thorbjorn Jagland: Conflict in Georgia is on CE agenda
The conflict in Georgia has always been on the agenda of the Council of Europe (CE) ministerial meeting, the organisation's Secretary General Thorbjorn Jagland said at a meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Pandzhikidze on May 16.
"The CE recognises Georgia's territorial integrity and this is the basis of our relations with that country," Jagland said. "We will continue to submit a consolidated report twice a year and a report will be submitted in the near future."
Jagland expressed his satisfaction with the fact that one can always take constructive measures to support the Geneva process to resolve the conflict in Georgia as a result of work with the Georgian side.
Pandzhikidze stressed that Georgia's issue does not lose its relevance in the Council of Europe.
Meanwhile, the Georgian opposition accused Pandzhikidze of the failure of her foreign ministerial mission as the discussion of the consequences of the 2008 war in Georgia was not included in the agenda of the CE ministerial meeting.
The Geneva talks were convened after the armed conflict in Georgia in August 2008, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement of August 12.
Georgia broke off diplomatic relations with Russia after their August 2008 war over the breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Georgia lost one-fifth of its territory after the two republics broke away. Tbilisi announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.
Regarding relations between the Council of Europe and Georgia, Jagland said they have improved after Bidzina Ivanishvili became Prime Minister.
"I have had numerous meetings with Georgian top officials," he said. "Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili's speech at PACE was successful. A meeting with Georgian Justice Minister Tea Tsulukiani was also successful. She introduced me to the important reforms carried out in Georgia. Today I had a very productive meeting with the Foreign Minister."
The Georgian Foreign Minister said bilateral relations between Georgia and the Council of Europe were discussed at the meeting.
"We discussed the action plans for three years received from the Council of Europe," she said. "The joint projects in several areas - human rights protection, strengthening of democratic institutions, strengthening of the rule of law and conflict settlement were also discussed. The Georgian parliament has already discussed the issue of opening a CE office in the country. All this testifies to the intensification of our relations and I think the CE advice will help Georgia in its development."