El final de la cohabitación en Georgia, elecciones de octubre 2013

El final de la cohabitación en Georgia, el 17 de noviembre de 2013 Giorgi Margvelashvili es nombrado Presidente  - primer ejemplo de transición de poder democrático electoral de una república ex URSS del Cáucaso o Asia Central.  El camino a Vilna y al Acuerdo de Asociación con la UE.

 

El Proceso electoral en Georgia

Las elecciones Presidenciales de Georgia del pasado 27 de octubre de 2013 han supuesto un gran paso hacia la consolidación de la democracia en este país y fueron calificadas por los diferentes observadores internacionales como  libres y justas, incluyentes, transparentes y democráticas. Este éxito constituye el primer ejemplo de alternancia en el poder a través de unas elecciones pacíficas en Georgia y en un país de la antigua URSS perteneciente al Cáucaso o a Asia Central.  Un alivio después de un año de cohabitación del Presidente Mikhail Saakashvili, del partido “Unidad de Movimiento Nacional” (UMN o UNM por sus siglas en inglés) en el poder desde el 2004, con  Bidzina Ivanishvili del “Sueño Georgiano” o Georgian Dream como Primer Ministro, vencedor de las elecciones parlamentarias de octubre de 2012. Este  partido  se consolida desde entonces como la fuerza política más votada.  

Presidential Elections in Georgia, 27th October 2013

Last October 2012, Georgia witnessed a watershed moment with its first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence, from the ruling party to the opposition. Independence took place as in other former Soviet Republics in 1991, in some it occurred a year before, in others, a year later. In the case of Georgia independence was proclaimed in March 1991.

The case of Georgia is very interesting as it is the first country within the Caucasus or Central Asian republics, formerly belonging to the Soviet Union, where a peaceful, democratic transfer of power occurred. The elections held were for the Georgian Parliament where the opposition party "Georgian Dream" won the majority of seats and since October 2012 has co-existed with a President from a different Party, "United National Movement or UNM"

This October 2013 will bring another major milestone as Georgians return to the polls to select a successor to President Mikheil Saakashvili.

OSCE/ODIHR Electoral Observation http://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/georgia/66638

Publicaciones en la Revista Miradas al Exterior del MAEC

El número 13 de la revista Miradas al Exterior del MAEC, publica un especial sobre la Observación Electoral
http://issuu.com/miradasalexterior/docs/miradas_al_exterior_13_esp

Versión inglesa/English
http://issuu.com/miradasalexterior/docs/miradas-13-en

Versión francesa/Francais:
http://issuu.com/miradasalexterior/docs/miradas-13-fr

Pag 16: UFI, Españoles en Organismos e Instituciones Internacionales

http://issuu.com/miradasalexterior/docs/miradas_al_exterior_07_esp

An opportunity in the fight against hunger: Microcredit

http://issuu.com/miradasalexterior/docs/miradas_19_en
 

The creation of European Endowment for Democracy (EED) and possible challenges

The EED was created  in 2012 with the aim of supporting democratic processes within the neighbourhood states of the EU.  The necessity of such a structure was revealed in the wake of the “Arab Spring” uprisings and created with the aim of covering countries on the Southern border of the EU, and as well, around its Eastern border.

The countries involved in the South are: Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Egypt, Algeria, Libya, Jordan, Lebanon, and the occupied Territories of Palestine.
The countries involved in the East are the Southern Caucasus: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia; and border with the EU:  Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.

EU Neighbourhood Policy

The European Union has developed an intensive policy of strengthening its relationship with neighbouring countries. These involved are sixteen countries, six to the east and ten to the south, the eastern and southern borders of the EU.  The six countries to the east are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova.  Russia remains a specific case in terms of its relationship with the EU, given its size and vast population, and must be addressed with a different instrument. Towards the south the border countries are: Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, the occupied territories of Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Libya and Lebanon.

A close relationship with neighbouring countries benefits all involved. Certainly the EU is interested in a more secure and stable developed border area and the East and South countries would benefit from the EU values and market opportunities.

Gender and Violence

GENDER AND VIOLENCE

Women are the weakest part of society whenever a war or conflict takes place either between two countries or within one single country.  For these reasons, the UN some years ago adopted UN Resolution 1325 to develop the idea of women, peace and security.  This UN Security Council Resolution (UNSC) is two-folded; on the one hand it addresses the fact that women are the ones that suffer most from a war or conflict, so they have to be protected.  Sexual abuses and violence against women are used as a tool in a war against the opponent.  This causes a lot of despair and suffering among women in the populations undergoing a situation of conflict.

On the other hand, the UN tries to involve more women in security and peace processes, as it is rare to have a female special representative of the UN in a conflict and or post conflict zone.  Both ideas complement each other and thus implemented would give a better understanding and a faster access to a stable situation of peace in a post conflict area, country or region.  This UNSC Res was followed by other UNSC Resolutions that adapted, expanded, clarified and reinforced the idea and the steps to follow in order to achieve the aim of respecting the rights of women in a conflict.  Still today there is much to be done to implement this idea and train all the actors involved to understand and take into account these UNSC Res as legal principles to be respected with no exceptions.

ELECTIONS IN GEORGIA, A WAY TO STRENGTHENING DEMOCRACY , OCT 2012

Georgia, a small country in the Caucasus Mountains has a very unique historic, cultural and political development throughout history.  A mountainous country that has borders with the Black Sea, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Russia. By XVth century, Georgia was fragmented into a number of petty kingdoms and principalities, which throughout the Early Modern period struggled to maintain their autonomy against Safavid and Ottoman domination until Georgia was finally annexed by the Russian Empire in 1801.  An Orthodox country, whose religion has somehow been respected even in the harshest times of Soviet Regime, it was independent in modern history for only very few years (1918-1921) before becoming part of the Soviet Union until 1991.  Georgia is known for its culture, poets and writers, food and the welcoming character of its inhabitants.  As the Georgian language is unique with a very ancient alphabet, difficult to understand and pronounce, it could present a challenge to its people for communication and interaction but this had never been the case.