Charles Michel Helps Steer a Negotiating Session of Clashing Political Factions in Georgia

The European Council president seized his new and unexpected role on Monday during a visit to Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, which has been in political chaos since authorities last week arrested its leader, Nika Melia.

After a series of meetings earlier in the day, Michel ended up presiding over a major negotiating session including the governing Georgian Dream party, Melia’s United National Movement (UNM), and other opposition parties at the presidential palace. While the session did not result in Melia’s immediate release, the meeting was hailed in Georgia as a major breakthrough that restarted political dialogue and may have prevented the crisis from spinning out of control.  

Here are remarks by President Charles Michel after his meeting in Georgia with Prime Minister Garibashvili and representatives of opposition political parties: 

"We had a very important meeting with the leaders of the political parties in the opposition and with the Prime Minister. We had the opportunity to listen to each other. And we understand that there are many difficult topics that need to be tackled by the political actors".

Garabishvili, who participated in the meeting, confirmed that the parties had agreed to continue their discussions, and he and Michel announced that the various players had agreed on a “rendezvous clause” by which they would meet again by March 15, when senior Georgian officials are due to visit Brussels for an EU-Georgia Association Council meeting.

"I proposed the support of the EU in order to encourage all the positive efforts on the different elements. In two weeks we will have in Brussels the next Association Council with Georgia. It will be a rendez-vous in order to observe what progress has been made on the different difficult topics. But the main message is the following: what counts for the EU is the protection of the interests of the Georgian citizens".

In this country, there are many difficult and complex challenges. Economic development, social cohesion, COVID-19, security, stability. These are very essential challenges that need to be tackled and that is why it is urgent to solve this political crisis. And tonight I am proud because a good step, an important step in the right direction has been taken.

"It doesn't mean that everything is solved. It doesn't mean that there are no difficult topics that will be discussed between the political parties with the government. But it means that when I asked the clear question to all the participants: is there the political will to strengthen the political dialogue in order to find solutions together? The answer was clearly yes. These are good steps, important steps, and we continue to support all the positive efforts".