2019-04-11
Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia addressed the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on April 10, 2019 in Strasbourg.
Head of Government of Georgia elaborated on the achievements, current reforms and challenges faced by Georgia.
"Success of my country accomplished during last 20 years, belongs to both - Georgia and the Council of Europe - and therefore we both can be proud of it. Together we have created a country that has emerged as a true democracy between two continents, bridging Europe with Asia. In this challenging region, Georgia has an ambition to dictate peaceful rules of coexistence and create a model of democracy, which would be sustainable. In the last 20 years, since accession to the Council of Europe, Georgia has managed to make a dramatic transformation and today we are a country on the rise. 20 years ago, Georgia had serious challenges and upon accession we undertook a set of commitments, whereby Georgia pledged to: create a truly democratic state; strengthen rule of law; carry out judicial reform; fight against corruption; fight torture and ill-treatment; guarantee freedom of speech and free media; protect minorities; and strengthen national human rights mechanisms. Georgia has demonstrated progress in all the above directions through close cooperation with different bodies of the Council of Europe. And I would like to use this opportunity to express gratitude on behalf of the Georgian people to the Parliamentary Assembly, Committee of Ministers, the European Court of Human Rights, Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Venice Commission, Office of Commissioner for Human Rights and other human rights monitoring bodies. As I said, we have achieved everything together" stated Prime Minister of Georgia.
Head of Government of Georgia noted that country has been benefiting from support eagerly shared by various institutions of the organization and announced that 500 000 Euros will be contributed by the Government of Georgia to the Treasury of the Council of Europe as a voluntary gesture and sign of gratitude.
Within the scope of the visit, Prime Minister of Georgia met with Liliane Maury Pasquier, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and Thorbjørn Jagland, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, followed with joint statements for media. Head of Government of Georgia also met with the President of the Venice Commission and Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights.
Prime Minister of Georgia also visited a Permanent Mission of Georgia to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and spoke with students of the Sunday School.
By the close of the meeting, Prime Minister hosted dignitaries at a Jubilee Reception marking 20th Anniversary from the accession of Georgia to the Council of Europe, which was attended by the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, high-ranking guests and friends of Georgia.
Prime Minister's Press Office