Georgian pass to EU: "We don't need no thought control"

     Georgian aspire to travel to the Schengen zone without a visa will soon come true. This week the majority of the European Parliament voted for visa-free regime for Georgian citizenship. The procedure still requires some technical realizations. In case of increase of migration or asylum seekers from Georgia, EU will be able to suspend the visa-free travel. The regime is designed for travelling, visiting and business purposes trip but not working on the territory of Schengen. Ukraine is going through similar procedure of EU visa liberalization. However, the war in Eastern Ukraine brings the case on another level of consideration and procedures.  

Georgia: between Europe and Russia

                The ruling party Georgian Dream has proven they were still popular (48%) among the nation after the parliamentary elections on October 9. The opposition - the United National Movement (UNM), took about 27%. Earlier the founder of UNM and the former President of Georgia and, M. Saakashvili, stated that if he was in Georgia, the party would win. He added, no mater what would be an outcome of the elections, he would not leave his post in Ukraine. There is also a big possibility that the populist pro-Russian party, Alliance of Patriots, will also enter the parliament. Preliminary report of the OSCE election observation mission to Georgia evaluated election positively. Will the new parliament bring Georgia closer to the EU and NATO?

Georgia: EU visa free movement dispute

Georgian state has fulfilled all requirements to obtain a visa-free movement for its citizens in the European Union. Delay in EU visa liberation for Georgia is a result of foreseeing approach to the process by Germany and France. Politicians of these countries would prefer to have a back up plan: fast return of visa regime if there is a rise of illegal actions caused by Georgians (or other nations granted visa-free movement) in EU. In media Georgian situation is presented along with Turkish, however, these cases are very different. Georgians just need a little bit of patience, meanwhile there is a long process of negotiations regarding requirements fulfilment with Turkey.

Nobody wants to wait until it comes to them

There are recent movements in Europe that make one think that peaceful times have passed. The countries that are not yet NATO members trying to become ones. Georgia and Montenegro are making steadfast steps towards the accession. Countries belonged to the North Atlantic Alliance are also trying to obtain more security. Poland, with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Witold Waszczykowski, has taken a strong position regarding its NATO membership role in the region. The substantial preparations for the NATO Summit in Warsaw show that many things has changed in Europe. And the tension is in the air.

Essential lessons for Ukraine: Poland and Georgia

           My article devoted to reforms in Ukraine has been published by VoxUkraine, an independent analytical platform. It presents the possible scenario of anti-corruption, public administration and economic reforms using the experience of Ukrainian neighbours. Georgia has shown unpredictable results, initiating core reforms within couple of years, starting 2003. Poland, being on the edge of economic collapse in the 1989, implemented drastic economic reforms called "Shock therapy", which has boost the economic development. One of the key "ingredient" of successful reforms is the strong political will of a government to perform the reforms.

http://voxukraine.org/2016/02/11/georgia-and-poland-lessons-for-ukraine-en/

Past crime of Russia to be revealed

        After the previous shameful news concerning Russian government another crime of the past is waiting for its revelation. The Russian-Georgian conflict in 2008 came into the focus of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Haage . It announced the investigation of the possible war crimes against humanity during the conflict. From June till October 2008 pro-Russian separatists and later on Russian troops took the territory of South Ossetia (Tskhinvali Region), part of Georgia. After the conflict Russia announced independence of this territory. During the hostilities 1000 people were killed and all ethnic Georgians lived on this territory were displaced.

Visa liberation for Ukraine and Georgia

      The year 2015 ended with the good news regarding the visa free travel to the European Union for the Ukraine and Georgia. Soon the citizens of these countries will be able to travel without visa to EU countries, excluding Ireland and UK, and to four countries of Schengen associated countries – Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Lichtenstein. The EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship remarked the hard work of Ukrainian and Georgian governments in fulfilling the necessary requirements for the visa liberation.

Regional imbalance: visa liberalisation for Ukraine, sanctions for Russia

      Today, on the 14^th of December, the Foreign Affairs Council discusses the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP). The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, Frederica Morgherini, denied the possibility of a debate on the extension of the economic sanctions against Russia on this level. According to her, there is no dispute regarding this subject among the foreign ministers. This topic will be raised on the summit of the European Council this week. 

      Before today’s foreign ministers meeting, the commissioner for ENP and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, commented the possibility for a non-visa regime for Ukraine as a positive step. There is a high probability that very soon the citizens of Ukraine and Georgia will not need a visa in order to visit the countries of the EU.

Mikheil Saakashvili is still Georgian, even without a citizenship

   Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili has been stripped of his Georgian citizenship. The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, appointed M. Saakashvili to be governor of the Odessa region in May 2015. Mikheil Saakashvili commented the news from Georgia:

 “By fighting for the Ukrainian statehood, we help Georgia. Striping me of the Georgian citizenship, Russian oligarch, Ivanishvili, is taken the control over my country. But he is not able to change the history of my country”.

   M. Saakashvili was the President of Georgia in 2004-2013. During his presidency Georgia was successfully reformed, in particular in anti-corruption, ease of doing business and privatization areas.