CoE Calls Georgia to Fulfill Commitments Otherwise Threatens with Expelling

(Tbilisi February 15, 2003. Civil Georgia) – The issue of expelling Georgia from the Council of Europe might be raised at a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE), member of the PACE monitoring mission for Georgia M?ty?s E?rsi (Hungary) said at the news briefing on February 14.

PACE two-member delegation paid fact-finding visit in Georgia on February 12-15 to evaluate fulfillment of the commitments undertaken by the Georgian authorities in 1999 while joining the organization.  Delegation held meetings with the country’s leadership and the representatives of the opposition parties and NGOs.

PACE delegation expressed concern regarding the increased violence towards the opposition parties, religious minorities and concerning the numerous procedural violations during the 2002 June local elections in Georgia.

PACE delegation called the Georgian authorities to secure conduction of the fair and democratic Parliamentary election, scheduled for October 2003.

The delegation will pay another fact-finding visit in Georgia in June 2003 to evaluate fulfillment of recommendations of the PACE.

M?ty?s E?rsi said that in case Georgian authorities fail to succeed in fulfillment of the recommendations “the group of MPs from PACE might raise the issue of expelling Georgia from the Council of Europe.”

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