Statement by the spokespersons of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, on developments in Georgia

Brussels, 11-2-2013 — /europawire.eu/ — Statement by the spokespersons of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, on  developments in Georgia

The spokespersons of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, and Štefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, issued the following statement today:

The High Representative and the Commissioner are concerned at signs of deterioration of the power-sharing arrangement between the Georgian Dream and United National Movement parties in Georgia – the ongoing stand-off around constitutional issues and most recently around the delivery of the President’s annual address in the Parliament developed into open confrontation yesterday, with United National Movement lawmakers facing an attack by demonstrators outside the site for the President’s annual address.

The EU considers it of paramount importance for the future of Georgia’s democracy that all political actors and institutions in Georgia be accorded due respect, in line with our shared European values.

The High Representative and the Commissioner call on all actors in Georgian politics to refrain from instrumentalising the processes or institutions of the state for partisan or for party political purposes. They are deeply concerned by the violent incidents in front of the National Library and call upon all parties to act in a responsible way, and to refrain from any violence.