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and help bring about prosperity, jobs, and growth.”
“I see no alternative to continued in-depth electoral and judicial reforms, and free and fair local elections,” he added.
In the aftermath of the governing party’s withdrawal over what they called “insulting one-sided loyalty” to the agreement, Michel has already held an informal meeting with Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili to discuss the development.
The agreement was the conclusion of a nearly two-months long mediation, launched by Michel on March 1. The process aimed to resolve Georgia’s political crisis which ensued after all eight elected opposition parties rejected the results of the October 2020 general vote as “falsified,” and launched a boycott of parliament.
2.3 US reacts harshly to Georgian Dream leaving April 19 dream
US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price and seven senators of the Foreign Relations Committee on July 28 levelled criticisms against the ruling Georgian Dream party in Georgia for quitting the EU-brokered April 19 agreement.
Georgian Dream announced on July 28 that it would be leaving the deal. Price
The Georgian Dream Party’s withdrawal from the April 19 Agreement undermines an agreed upon way forward for the country through needed reforms and risks a return to political crises. We call on all parties to work together to advance Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) July 29, 2021 argued that the withdrawal “undermines an agreed upon way forward for the country through needed reforms and risks a return to political crises.” He called on all political parties to work together to “advance’ Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration.
The bipartisan group of Senators – Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jim Risch (R-ID), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Rob Portman (R-OH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and John Barrasso (R-WY) – dubbed as “disappointing” the ruling party’s decision to “unilaterally walk away” from the deal, during a “pivotal time” for Georgia’s democratic development.
They said that recent developments in the country “undermine” the efforts envisaged by the multiparty agreement, including the “critical” judicial and electoral reforms.
“It was disappointing that not all elected parties signed the agreement or implemented the agreement in good faith,” added the senators. The electoral bloc led by the largest opposition United National Movement (UNM) party, and also the Alliance of Patriots, European Georgia and Labor party, were the four elected opposition groups that refused to join the deal.
But the Foreign Relations Committee members stressed that “it is largely incumbent upon the ruling party to set aside political differences and pursue an
8 GEORGIA Country Report September 2021 www.intellinews.com