On 18 September, four of the EU’s Eastern Partner countries (Armenia, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine) joined the international Alliance for Torture-Free Trade, which was launched during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York.

“The initiative – a joint effort by the European Union, Argentina and Mongolia, with a total of 58 participating countries – aims to stop the trade in goods used to carry out the death penalty and commit torture,” the EU said in a press release.

It also gave a reminder that international law bans torture in all circumstances. Despite this, tools of death and pain are still traded across the globe: “These include batons with metal spikes, electric shock belts, grabbers that seize people while electrocuting them, chemicals used to execute people and the forced injection systems that go with them,” the EU said.

“These products serve no other purpose than inflicting terrible pain and killing people. Now, we are taking concrete action to shut down this despicable trade. I am thrilled that so many countries around the globe have signed up to the joint Declaration and joined this Alliance. By standing together, we demonstrate that we will not tolerate this trade any longer,” said European Union Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström.

More information on the countries that have joined the Alliance and the content of the joint political declaration adopted in New York can be found here.

The President of Georgia, H.E. Giorgi Margvelashvili has held a meeting with the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mr. Stepan Poltorak, as a part of his two-day official visit to Georgia.
The parties have discussed Georgia-Ukraine bilateral cooperation in the area of defense and the prospects of further strengthening these relations.
President Margvelashvili has reaffirmed his strong support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and pointed out that Georgia and Ukraine face similar threats and aggression from Russia and share common goals in the foreign policy.
According to the President, Georgia condemns aggressive and illegal actions taken by the Russian Federation in Ukraine and will continue to support Ukraine in all formats.
On behalf of the President of Ukraine, Mr. Poltorak has thanked President Margvelashvili for his personal contribution in supporting Ukraine at the international arena.
The conversation has also touched upon the preparation for the prospective visit of the President of Ukraine to Georgia, which will be held in the nearest future.
The meeting has also been attended by the Head of the Administration of the President of Georgia Mr. Giorgi Abashishvili, the Secretary of the National Security Council of Georgia Mr. Davit Rakviashvili, the Minister of Defence of Georgia Mr. Levan Izoria, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Mr. Vladimer Chachibaia and the Secretary of the President of Georgia for Foreign Affairs Mr. Tengiz Pkhaladze.

Former Prime Minister of France, presidential candidate of the country Francois Fillon has declared that Ukraine and Georgia have no place in NATO and the European Union. He told this in an interview with French newspaper Le Monde, reports RIA Novosti
“I will remind you about the irresponsible statements of those who wanted the entry of Georgia and Ukraine in NATO. You just need to admit that Ukraine and Georgia are not designed to enter the EU and NATO,” said French ex-Prime Minister.
Fillon has criticized Western countries for waging an aggressive policy against Russia, he noted that Russia has a lot of responsibility, but not by her. According to him, the military competition with Moscow is a big mistake. He also called the false question of missile defense near the Russian borders.
“Is it always the West has been a reliable partner? Isn’t he deceived Russia on Libya, in Kosovo, for economic partnership with the EU? Why did we need to deploy missile defenses near the Russian border? We made a lot of mistakes,” said Fillon.
Earlier the candidate in presidents of France Francois Fillon has declared that relations with Russia – a strategic issue for Europe’s future. According to Fillon, the issue of restoration of relations with Moscow is very important for Europe, and for this repair it is necessary to solve the Ukrainian question and to respect the Minsk agreement.

“Agreement on visa suspension mechanism big success for @EPPGroup. Visa-free travel for Georgia & Ukraine now possible. Europe is delivering,”-this statement was made by the German politician and Member of the European Parliament for Bavariawith the Christian Social Union in Bavaria, part of the European People's Party.
According to Manfred Weber, visa free regime will be possible for Ukrainians and Georgians after the visa suspension mechanism success. 

The EU has agreed to grant visa-free travel to 50 million Ukrainians and Georgians. Officials said the deal had been struck on Thursday to end an internal EU dispute that had been holding up the promised measures. Late-night talks involving EU member states and the European Parliament had reached a compromise on the terms of a mechanism which can be used to suspend the visa-free schemes in emergencies.
The European Commission and the bloc's 28 members will be able to reimpose visa requirements more quickly and more easily under a compromise deal under fears over immigration and terrorism. The deal on visa suspension must still be formally approved by the member states and the European Parliament.
The deal struck between the European Parliament and the member states "will facilitate the immediate consideration of the two visa liberalisation proposals for Georgia and Ukraine," MEP Agustin Diaz de Mera said. Under the deal, visa requirements may be reintroduced if there is a surge of citizens from a non-EU country such as Ukraine or Georgia staying irregularly in EU territory.
They can also be reintroduced if there is a rise in unfounded asylum applications, or a lack of cooperation on returning migrants, or if nationals are deemed to pose a security threat.
"This agreement is balanced, and is extremely important for both the effectiveness and credibility of the union's visa liberalisation policy," Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak said.
"The current suspension mechanism is not adequate and will now be improved," following the deal, said Mr Kalinak, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency.
"The fact that we have reached an agreement should open the door to further progress on visa liberalisation talks with other countries that meet all the necessary requirements," he added.he two former Soviet republics are seeking to move further away from their former master Moscow and closer to the West. However, they have grown frustrated that the EU was failing to deliver. 
After last year's refugee crisis, EU governments had grown nervous of the popular reaction led by anti-immigration parties against a move to make visits easier for 45 million Ukrainians, as well as 5 million Georgians.
Allowing them to travel into Europe's Schengen zone without applying in advance for visas was an important incentive for people there to accept hard reforms from the governments in Kiev and Tbilisi as they sought closer relations with the EU.
Earlier this week, the head of the European Council said the EU was putting its credibility and reputation at risk by letting internal political wrangling stall the promised easing of visa requirements. 
In a letter sent to European Parliament President Martin Schulz on Tuesday and seen by Reuters, Donald Tusk urged the legislature to compromise with national governments to unblock visa liberalisation.
"At stake here are the legitimate hopes and aspirations of the nations who are our neighbours, as well as the reputation of the European Union, which has categorically and repeatedly committed itself to the issue," the former Polish premier wrote.
"Even though all the parties in this debate have their own good arguments and undoubtedly good will, it seems we are getting close to squandering our joint efforts," he added, saying failure to deliver would be "an unforgivable mistake".
source: Independent

The governing institutions of the European Union and the Member States bear a serious political responsibility and should not lose the trust of Ukraine and Georgia regarding the speedy granting of visa-free regime to these countries.
This is stated in a letter of European Council President Donald Tusk to President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, available to an Ukrinform correspondent in Brussels.
"We have made demands on our partners, who have paid a heavy price in carrying out painful reforms and even have been subjected to great political risk. They accepted these challenges, with a strong belief that the EU will be able to fulfill its own promises. Therefore, I want to reiterate that we may lose not only the social, political and economic interests, and not only the future of our relations with our neighbors, but, also and especially, trust," Tusk commented on the inadmissibility of delay in EU’s decision-making process regarding granting Ukraine and Georgia visa-free regime.
In his letter, the President of the European Council noted that the main reason for delay in granting visa-free regime for these two countries is the lack of agreement between the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union.

Despite all the allegations and suggestions, Ukraine and Georgia hasn't obtained the EU visa-free regime so far. The date of abolishing visas has been postponed many times, and yet we still we don't know when will the Ukrainians start travelling Europe freely. According to the latest news, the EU officials fail to approve the necessary suspension mechanism by the end of 2016, so abolishing visas for Ukraine and Georgia is likely to be postponed again - at least until summer 2017, just after holding crucial presidential elections in France.