Statement by the Civil Platform for Peace

December 4, 2024

Tbilisi, Georgia

Statement by the Civil Platform for Peace

We, the civil society organisations and experts of the Civil Platform for Peace, strongly protest the "Georgian Dream" party's decision not to put the issue of opening negotiations with the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028, which effectively means a rejection of the EU integration.

This decision by the ruling party directly contradicts the Constitution of Georgia and the historical choice of the Georgian people, the vast majority of whom support Georgia's accession to the EU.

This approach is especially alarming given Georgia's pursuit of peaceful conflict resolution, where successful European integration has been a central pillar, as outlined in various government documents. According to the peace initiative "A Step to a Better Future," approved in 2018, "the Government of Georgia is committed to sharing the benefits of political association and economic integration process with the EU, including the possibility of visa-free travel to Schengen zone countries, with those living in Abkhazia and Tskhinvali region/South Ossetia." Granting Georgia candidate status and providing a tangible prospect of EU membership created an opportunity to make the process of peaceful conflict resolution more effective and successful.

Therefore, the recent suspension of the European integration process driven by the anti-Western policies of the "Georgian Dream" and its outright rejection by the party’s leadership severely harms the reconciliation between artificially divided communities and the prospect of reunification. At a time when Georgia itself is losing the EU's political support and financial assistance, with discussions of suspending the visa-free regime underway among EU member states, extending these benefits to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region becomes unattainable.

Furthermore, since 2008, the European Union has played a crucial role in the peaceful conflict resolution in Georgia, including through the implementation of the non-recognition policy and support for confidence-building projects. By mediating the Ceasefire Agreement between Russia and Georgia in 2008, the European Union became a guarantor of Georgia’s security and stability. However, the deliberate anti-EU actions of the "Georgian Dream" have left Georgia isolated against the occupying force and have essentially weakened Georgia's positions on the international arena. Similarly, the United States has made a significant contribution to the peaceful resolution of the conflict. The termination of the strategic partnership with Washington, resulting from the deliberate anti-Western policies of the "Georgian Dream," will also have extremely negative consequences on this process.

We strongly urge the "Georgian Dream" to to stop sabotaging the European integration process and cease actions that undermine peaceful conflict resolution. Additionally, we call for an end to the violence against peaceful demonstrators protesting this latest anti-Western move by the "Georgian Dream" and demand that the process be returned to a constitutional framework.

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Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)

Social Justice Center

Studio Re

Coalition for IDP Rights

The Centre for Cultural Relations – Caucasian House

Institute for the Study of Nationalism and Conflicts (ISNC)

Georgian Tea Producers Association

Union “Tskhinvali of the Future”

Fund of Women Entrepreneurs

Levan Mikeladze Foundation

Movement for Abkhazia

International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN)

Peace Institute for Progress (PIP)

Human Rights Center

Center for Peace and Civic Development (CPCD)

Democracy Research Institute

IDP Women Association “Consent”

“Start now”

Fund “Sokhumi”

Union of Teachers “Education end Universe”

Research-Intellectual Club “Dialogue of Generations”

Charity Humanitarian Center “Abkhazeti”

Paata Zakareishvili

Marina Paghava

Marina Pochkhua

Rusudan Marshania

Mikheil Jakhua

SOS Georgia!