The responsibility lies with the sides to find the way forward but with that commitment, I hope that through further hard work it will be possible to find a landing zone between the sides, said EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell.

EU Ambassador commented on the ongoing negotiation process between the political parties in Georgia. He said that Charles Michel’s special envoy is still in Tbilisi and is trying to work with the parties, although there is no solution yet.

According to the Ambassador, the dialogue process is difficult, but it is good that the parties still support the negotiation process.

“The visit of President Michel on March 1 was the moment when he took a decision to engage himself personally in trying to further assist the different sides in Georgia to find a way forward. And that has been followed up by the special envoy Mr Danielsson, whom I accompanied until I took off to Brussels. As you know, the special envoy is still in Tbilisi trying to work with the different sides. But, as we say, we do not have a solution. It is of course a reflection of the fact that this is a very deeply rooted disagreement that we are having for a long time. So, it is tricky. I think the good thing is that we are seeing the different sides still being committed to the process. There is also an agreement, basically what are the issues that need to be addressed in order to not only solve the immediate crisis but also to move democracy and the rule of law in Georgia forward, which I find very important.

These are complicated issues. You may raise the level but that does not mean that you will instantly find the compromise, but I’m still hopeful that with continued commitment, but of course the responsibility lies with the sides to find the way forward but with that commitment, I hope that through further hard work it will be possible to find a landing zone between the sides,” Carl Hartzell declared.

However, according to Carl Hartzell, it is not for the European Union to decide the way forward out of this political crisis but it has to be something that all parties will support.

“With regard to the different positions, snap elections, new elections, plebiscite and so on, these positions are well known but I think the important thing that we heard from the High Representative, which is fundamental to all of these, is to say that it is not for the European Union to decide the way forward out of this political crisis but it has to be something that all sides looking at the totality of the aspects that are on the table, the elements that are on the table will feel that they can stand up behind,” Carl Hartzell concluded.