US Congressmen consulted on new Georgian legislation

American Congressmen held meetings with Georgian lawmakers during their official visit to Georgia, on June 6, where several significant issues, mainly connected with the new constitution model of the country were discussed.

The first meeting was held with the members of the constitutional commission of the parliament, where the sides discussed the details of the new model of the Georgian constitution and each amendment made to the document. Georgian parliamentarians explained the situation in terms of property rights protection and the work of the judiciary. After meeting with the members of the constitutional commission, the American lawmakers met with MPs from the parliamentary minority. The sides discussed the situation in Georgia’s occupied territories and the ways of settling the conflicts in Georgia.

“We have met the representatives of different fields acting in Georgia and got information on their views regarding some issues and problems existing in the country, “ Congressman Susan Devis stated before dedicating a significant part of her speech to expressing thankful statements towards Georgian soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and their families. The head of the delegation, David Dreier, stated that the May 26 events in Georgia, would have been handled differently in his home country, “ we have information on May 26 events and I can say that if such occasion had taken place to the US, an independent investigation would have surely been carried out.”

“We have talked on those constitutional changes, which will come to force from 2013. They have familiarized with those rights the parliament would have due to the changes, “MP, Pavle Kublashvili, said and mentioned that he also delivered information on what changes have been carried out in the constitution in terms of property rights, self government and the court system,” interest and support from their side is the sign that collaboration with our strategic partner will impose concrete outcomes.”

Georgia’s membership to the Euro- Atlantic structures was pushed forwards by opposition MP, Gia Tortladze, during the meeting with the congressmen, “I have stated that until Georgia’s entry into these structures, Russian aggression towards our country will not be reduced. Herewith, I have brought the example of Baltic countries, where Russian aggression was neutralized only after Baltic countries joined the Euro structures.”

Moving the parliament from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, negotiations on election reform and occupied regions were the main topics for the Parliamentary minority, Christian- Democrats, “ the congressmen consider that collaboration of the Government and legislative organs in different towns might be less effective , “ Magda Anikashvili, from the Movement, said and mentioned that the congressmen one more time confirmed their support towards Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and expressed their discontent regarding those threats and the tension existing in the occupied regions of the country.

Labour Party was very critical in its assessment of the congressmen’s visit to Georgia, “their visit to Georgia has confirmed the reality that they need only Saakashvili’s pack here and the Georgian people are just pawns for achieving this aim, “ Kakha Dzagania from the party said and added that after the May 26 events the delegation arrived to the country as “ dictator Saakashvili’s protector , which is the great shame of the US Congress.”