The President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Gerald Connolly issued a statement following the signing of the April 19 Agreement by Georgian political parties to bring an end to Georgia’s political crisis.

#NATOPA President @GerryConnolly issued a statement following the signing of the April 19 Agreement by #Georgian political parties to bring an end to #Georgia’s political crisis. Read more ?https://t.co/Yy4HygrSFy pic.twitter.com/hwuFDbOYiF

— NATO Parliamentary Assembly / AP-OTAN (@natopapress) April 20, 2021

The agreement marks a key step out of the political impasse, paving the way for critical reforms. It is a positive step forward and an important milestone to restoring Georgia’s role in the family of democracies, the statement reads.

“I commend all signatories from majority and opposition parties for their commitment to chart a united course for Georgia, as it pursues its Euro-Atlantic future. Political compromise, while rarely easy, is the key feature that sets democracies apart.

However, important work remains ahead to enforce the agreement fully and scrupulously. Georgia’s friends and allies abroad are looking to Georgia as it works to bolster democratic institutions and address polarisation in a constructive spirit and good faith,” Gerald Connolly noted.

NATO PA President calls on all the remaining members of parliament and parties to sign on to this important agreement and to commit to working together in a fully functional Georgian Parliament in a spirit of compromise.

“I also reiterate my call on the ruling majority to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the rights of the opposition. The people of Georgia deserve a stable government unified around a commitment to democratic principles.

The NATO PA remains committed to helping Georgia ensure that the Agreement fulfills its aspirations. We continue supporting Georgia in its democratic consolidation as it charts its path for Euro-Atlantic integration,” the statement said.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, as well as opposition parties, including Lelo for Georgia, Citizens, Republicans, Strategy Agmashenebeli, Girchi, and Girchi – More Freedom signed the renewed EU-backed compromise paper.

Several current and former members of the United National Movement and European Georgia have also signed the agreement individually, however, other representatives of both parties as well as the Labour Party rebuff to sign the document yet.

Charles Michel’s new proposal implies electoral and justice reforms, offers a pardon for all violations and convictions stemming from the 19-21 June 2019 protests and the conduct of repeat parliamentary elections in 2022 if the ruling Georgian Dream party fails to receive at least 43 % of votes in upcoming municipal elections.

For the record, Georgian opposition parties that won seats in the Georgian Parliament of the 10th Convocation believe the 2020 parliamentary elections were a fraud. They have been demanding repeat parliamentary elections and the release of the United National Movement Chair, Nika Melia, and the co-founder of the TV channel Mtavari Arkhi Giorgi Rurua.

The second EU-mediated attempt to solve political crises in Georgia failed. EU mediator Christian Danielsson proposed a solution to political actors on March 31.