Georgia and the EU hold annual Human Rights Dialogue
On 22 June in Brussels, the EU and Georgia held the 15th round of the annual Human Rights Dialogue.
Participants exchanged views on the human rights situation in Georgia and on recent developments in the promotion and protection of democracy and human rights since the last dialogue in July 2021.
The Georgian delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Teimuraz Gianjalia, and the EU delegation was led by Richard Tibbels, from the European External Action Service. The EU Special Representative for Human Rights, Eamon Gilmore, also participated in the meeting.
The next EU-Georgia human rights dialogue is planned to take place in Tbilisi in 2023.
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The President of Turkmenistan received the EU Special Representative for Central Asia
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received on Wednesday the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Teri Hakala, who arrived in Ashgabat on a visit. As noted during the meeting, Turkmenistan attaches great importance to the further development of partnership with the European Union and regards this visit as an impetus for constructive cooperation.
The Head of State stressed that the opening of the official representative office of the European Union in Ashgabat in 2019 marked a new chapter in Turkmenistan's relations with the EU.
Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Terry Hakala confirmed their interest in expanding cooperation both in the field of politics and in the spheres of economy, ecology and humanitarian affairs.
The joint committee "European Union – Turkmenistan", the formats of the inter–parliamentary dialogue, the dialogue on human rights and the Dialogue "European Union – Central Asia" were called effective platforms for interaction.
Ashgabat and Brussels are actively cooperating in the field of modernization of Turkmenistan's legislation, implementing joint projects in the educational sphere, the digital sector, the agro-industrial complex, water resources management and climate issues.
Prime Minister’s Meeting with EU Special Representative
Georgian Prime Minister held a meeting today with Herbert Salber (EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia). The discussion involved the human rights situation in Georgia's occupied territories and the Georgian Government's efforts aiming to better the lives of the population along the occupation line.
During the meeting, Giorgi Kvirikashvili once again condemned the recent decision to hold a referendum on giving the Tskhinvali Region a name similar to a subject of the Russian Federation, and urged the international community to join forces and stand up to the Russian Federation's provocations.
According to the Prime Minister, it is unfortunate that, despite the Georgian Government's peaceful policy and efforts to promote reconciliation and confidence building between the populations along the occupation lines, the Russian Federation intensifies the isolation of Georgia's occupied territories and continues to take steps toward their annexation, thus undermining the region's stability and endangering the international system grounded in democratic values.
The parties also emphasized the importance of the Geneva International Talks as the paramount mechanism for discussing problematic issues and taking relevant decisions.
The meeting was attended by Bjoern Kuehne (Chief of Cabinet/Political Adviser at the Office of the EU Special Representative) and the Georgian side together with the Prime Minister represented by Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze and the Prime Minister's Foreign Policy Adviser Tedo Japaridze.
