Tag: Georgia

It was the West's recognition of Kosovo's independence from Serbia, a traditional ally of Russia, in early 2008, that triggered events that led to the occupation by the Russian army of 20% of Georgia’s territory, writes Stratfor.

Achieving the territorial integrity with the Russia-occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia will take time, but in the meantime Georgia seeks “fields of cooperation” with Russia and will not boycott the Sochi Olympic Games, Georgian Foreign Minister Maia Panjikidze told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

Over the last year, Moldova and Georgia have cooperated “quite well” with the EU, under the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), while Ukraine, which used to be the front-runner, is lagging behind, according to reports to be published today (20 March).

Countries on the EU's eastern border have registered some progress in ongoing talks on visa-free travel to Europe, with Georgia winning a new €20 million EU assistance and reform package.

Some political experts say the victory of the Georgian Dream coalition in the recent parliamentary election can lead to the curtailment of reforms introduced by President Mikheil Saakashvili government, writes Lidiya Smola.

A country famed for its Rose Revolution, Georgia has wound up with a president – a hero in those days – who now declares in Parliament that 'I deserve to rule this country for one generation', writes Tedo Japaridze.

EXCLUSIVE: In an escalation of rhetoric, civil rights groups accused the Georgian authorities of preparing massive fraud in order to win the 1 October parliamentary election. In response, a Georgian diplomat told EurActiv that the government had evidence of links between some opposition politicians and organised crime figures in plotting a coup d’état.

Georgian forces shot dead 11 gunmen and three soldiers were killed in an operation to free hostages near the border with Russia, the Interior Ministry said yesterday (29 August). The European Commission said it was following the situation with concern. 

Russia officially joined the World Trade Organization today (22 August), ending a 19-year wait to become part of the global club.

Two months ahead of a critical electoral test in Georgia, time is running out for the international community to guarantee a free and fair election and ensure stability, writes Tedo Japaridze, former Georgian foreign minister.

Pro-Russian opposition tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili is "bribing" voters ahead of the October parliamentary election by providing satellite TV equipment free of charge, Giorgi Baramidze, Georgia's vice prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

A two-day NATO summit continues today (21 May) with the future of the alliance’s action in Afghanistan and the Europe-based anti-missile shield featuring high on the agenda. In contrast, NATO enlargement has been taken off the table.

The relationship Norway and Switzerland have with the EU could be a basis for Georgia-EU ties, Giorgi Baramidze, the country's vice prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

Georgia remains committed to joining the European Union, said President Mikheil Saakashvili in an exclusive interview with EurActiv Poland. In a conciliatory gesture towards Moscow, the Georgian leader argued that closer ties between his country and the EU could also pave the way for more integration between Russia and the 27-nation bloc.

Russia is set to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by mid-December 18 years after seeking membership. The last obstacle was lifted yesterday (3 November) when Georgia, with which Russia fought a brief war in August 2008, withdrew a veto over its big neighbour's accession.

Russia's attempts to increase its influence over in its near-abroad is likely to lead to conflict and authoritarianism in neighbouring countries, but not necessarily to pro-Russian regimes, argues Alexey Leshchenko.

Georgian journalists protested yesterday (11 July) over the arrest of three photographers accused of spying for Russia in a case that has concerned diplomats and shaken media circles in the former Soviet Republic.

Russia understands the present difficulties holding up the process of EU integration, just like EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy has never publicly criticised Moscow over the human rights situation in Russia "because he understands it," Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's ambassdor to the EU, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

Georgia wants the European Union to help it solve its conflict with Moscow over the "occupied territories" of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, the country's vice-prime minister, Giorgi Baramidze, told EurActiv in an exclusive interview.

Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili declared yesterday (23 November) in the European Parliament that his country would not use force to settle the dispute with Russia over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which led to war between the two countries in 2008.

Two EU members, Romania and Hungary, have joined forces with Azerbaijan and Georgia around a project to ship liquefied Azeri gas to their region. Supporters argue that the project could be implemented quickly, but critics point to high costs and vulnerability.

The EU opened talks on an association agreement with Georgia yesterday (15 July) in a move that will boost the former Soviet republic's hopes of forging closer ties with the West. The agreement, however, does not promise future EU accession.

Mutual resentment between Poland and Russia is being replaced with openness and the beginnings of friendship in the emotional days since the tragic plane crash in Smolensk, in which the Polish president and his delegation lost their lives, Piotr Maciej Kaczyński, a researcher at the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), told EurActiv in an interview.