Statement by the spokespersons of EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, and the European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle, on developments in Georgia (09/02/2013, EUROPA.EU)

The spokespersons of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign
Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, and Štefan Füle,
European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, issued the following
statement today:
The High Representative and the Commissioner are concerned at signs of deterioration of
the power-sharing arrangement between the Georgian Dream and United National
Movement parties in Georgia - the ongoing stand-off around constitutional issues and
most recently around the delivery of the President's annual address in the Parliament
developed into open confrontation yesterday, with United National Movement lawmakers
facing an attack by demonstrators outside the site for the President's annual address.
The EU considers it of paramount importance for the future of Georgia's democracy that all
political actors and institutions in Georgia be accorded due respect, in line with our shared
European values.
The High Representative and the Commissioner call on all actors in Georgian politics to
refrain from instrumentalising the processes or institutions of the state for partisan or for
party political purposes. They are deeply concerned by the violent incidents in front of the
National Library and call upon all parties to act in a responsible way, and to refrain from
any violence.

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-103_en.htm