The Chair of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Sofo Kiladze held the first  introductory working meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, H.E. Justin McKenzie Smith.
The parties discussed bilateral relations, future cooperation and communication, as well as the role of the Parliaments. “It is important for the Parliament to be active in terms of legislative initiatives and to participate in construction of state institutional guarantees”, - S. Kiladze noted.
The Ambassador expressed commitment for cooperation with the Parliament in terms of enactment of the legislative and control mechanisms.

Paris hosts the sitting of the PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights participated by the Chair of the Legal Issues Committee, Eka Beselia. The PACE Committee considered various relevant issues, including: 25 years of the Committee on Torture Prevention, achievements and need of improvement; abuse of Interpol system – further severe legal guarantees; immunity of international organizations towards jurisdiction and rights of their employees; provision of free relations of the convicts with the lawyers etc.
The Committee discussed the responses by the Committee of Ministers to the recommendations issued by the Legal Affairs Committee. The part of the recommendations concerned transparency and openness of European institutions.
The Committee considered and adopted the draft report on compliance of the arbitration of investor states with human rights in international agreements on investment protection.
The Committee endorsed the Minutes of the Sitting held on October 10-13, 2016 in Strasbourg. Simultaneously, the conferences, meetings and workshops were held.

The assignments of the consuming agencies and various Ministries will be reduced with 40 ml GEL as a result of reduction of administrative expenditures and the mobilized resources will be directed to universal healthcare program as envisaged under the State Budget 2016.
According to the Deputy-Finance Minister, Giorgi Kakauridze, the Budget 2016 has been developed in November, 2015. Deriving from some circumstances revealed upon implementation of the Budget, the incomes and taxes shall become necessarily to be specified. The resources structure to be obtained in capacity of the loan has been changed and the taxes inflicted within the projects funded by donor sources shall be reflected in the Budget.  The Committees severally supported the draft.
The Regional Policy and Self-Government Committee considered the Letter-Agreement of the Change N1 to the Financial Agreement between Georgia and EBRD of August 20, 2013 (Water Infrastructure Restoration Project II). The draft envisages implementation of sub-projects in Samegrelo, Imereti, Racha-Lechkhumi, Guria, Shida Kartli and Kakheti regions in view of improvement of water supply and sewerage efficiency, service, public healthcare and environmental protection. The Committee supported the draft.

First of all, Mr. Kobakhidze emphasized democratic development and human rights being one of the main priorities and challenges. He noted that the current standard shall be maintained and further increased. “We have a long way to the Western standards as in democratic traditions, so in human rights terms and we have much to do to maximize the standard and approximate to the ultimate goal – I mean the Western standards. Our task is to achieve the highest standards in human rights protection and democracy sphere”.

The Chair of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, Ms. Sofo Kiladze held the introductory meeting with the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Georgia, Mr. Christian Urse.
The parties discussed the role of CoE and support to Georgia and noted importance of CoE support and obligations of Georgia in terms of implementation with high human rights protection standards.
“CoE, in terms of human rights protection, is one of the leading organizations in Georgia. Our state has obtained the greatest support indeed from CoE as in legal so in human rights direction. Our Committee will do its best to further enhance cooperation”, - S. Kiladze stated.

The Committee elected the Deputies and developed the Regulation. Gedevan Popkhadze was elected as the First Deputy and Rati Ionatashvili and Giorgi Tughushi as the Deputies.
The Committee is composed of: Savanan Mirzoev, Ruslan Poghosian, Koba Lursmanashvili, Eka Beselia, Otar Chrdileli, Pati Khalvashi, Enzel Mkoian, Levan Bezhanidze, Irma Inashvili, Elene Khoshtaria, Sergo Ratiani, Sergi Kapanadze.
According to the Chair, Sofio Kiladze, the Committee will continue maintenance of high standards and enhancement of human rights and civil integration issues. She spoke about the role of minority in development of democracy. “I would like to underline that the role of minority is important in development of democracy, pluralism is important for democracy. We will constructively cooperate with the Patriots and UNM”.

“Human rights are and must remain non-negotiable,” German Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told parliamentarians today at PACE’s plenary session in Strasbourg. “They are not just an instrument to be used when it suits on the road to peace. They are in fact the cornerstone on which a functioning international order needs to be built.”
“There is no paradox between standing up for human rights and the aim of foreign-policy stability or efforts to balance interests between states. On the contrary, they go hand in hand,” he pointed out.
The world currently seems to be “out of joint”, the Minister said, citing wars and conflicts on Europe’s doorstep, the unlawful annexation of Crimea by Russia, forces undermining EU cohesion - most recently in the Brexit referendum – as well as growing social tension in many European states.
“That is precisely why the Council of Europe is so important,” he continued. “After all, it gives us - the 47 member states and no less than 800 million people - a human rights cornerstone. A shared, binding canon. And it gives us an insight into the human rights situation in our countries. It looks behind the scenes.”
“The Parliamentary Assembly has always been the place in the Council of Europe where political discussions about the most pressing issues of our time take place – especially in times of rising tension and conflict.”
“Regarding Russia, I hope that through our endeavours to bring about a peaceful solution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine, we will reach a situation in the medium term that will allow Russian delegates to take part again in sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly and its work. Clearly, Russia, too, must do its part,” said Mr Steinmeier. However, members of parliament elected to the Duma from the illegally annexed region of Crimea can not be accepted at PACE, he said.
“Dialogue and parliamentary understanding are important – there is no doubt of that – but only when they remain loyal to the constitution of the Council of Europe, that is, its statutes, aims and values.”
Finally, the Foreign Minister paid tribute to the constructive role the Council of Europe played - and should continue to play - with respect to the difficult situation in Turkey