Majority and minority fail to agree on resolution text over Russia’s aggression
By Tea Mariamidze
Thursday, July 23
Parliamentary majority Georgian Dream (GD) and minority United National Movement (UNM) fail to agree on a common version of a resolution text addressing the recent aggressive actions of Russia at the so-called administrative border. The sides have time left until Friday to agree on a common resolution text as, according to the opposition Free Democrats, different resolution texts will be confusing and damaging for the state’s goals.
About a week ago, Russia continued its creeping occupation of the Georgian territory and relocated a section of the Baku-Supsa pipeline. The signpost erected by the occupant is quite close to the Tbilisi-Gori central motorway.
There are two versions of the resolution. One, drafted by GD has already been submitted to Parliament’s bureau. The UNM also presented its own version last week. Both of them are being actively discussed by Parliament.
The UNM in its project addresses the government to become more active to stop the current situation, and to restore all reduced or disbanded police units located near the occupied territories. They asked the government to abolish Abashidze-Karasin format of negotiations with Russia and concentrate only on Geneva talks, where the European Union and the United States are participating as the mediators.
The majority does not approve of the version presented by the UNM and lobbies its own draft, calling it more appropriate and legally correct.
In their document, the GD addresses the government to continue informing and sharing their position in foreign organizations and countries, as well as within Geneva Talks format. Moreover, they ask the government to consider the enactment of the agreement signed between Russia and Georgia in 2011, in the format of World Trade Organization.
The Free Democrats (FD) called upon the authors to agree on one version.
They think that it is possible to compose one optimal text from both documents.
“Disagreement on this issue will be equal to the crime and it will be surprising for our society as well as for our foreign partners,” said Viktor Dolidze, member of the FD.
The session was held on the background of the rally, held by the young members of the UNM.
The protesters accused the government of inactivity and demanded the ruling coalition to change their policy concerning the occupied territories.
The documents will be considered within the Temporary Commission for Territorial Integrity and Foreign Affairs and European Integration committees, after which discussions will be held at a plenary session. Both sides must agree on a common version of the resolution by Friday.
