Dimitri Lortkipanidze, director of the Primakov Georgian-Russian Public Center, said in the interview with a web portal, Georgia and World, on December 12 that lifting the ban on agricultural land sales to foreign nationals was the European Union’s categorical demand related to the EU-Georgia Association Agreement. Lortkipanidze also noted that the part of the Association Agreement related to economy has been classified.
Dimitri Lortkipanidze’s statement as if the economic part of the EU-Georgia Association Agreement has been classified, is a lie. The Association Agreement is a completely public document and it is available to all interested persons. Title V of the Association Agreement is about economic cooperation and it says nothing about the sale of agricultural land to foreign citizens.
The Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union is a public document and not a single part of the Agreement has been classified.
Nino Bolkvadze, director of the Information Center on NATO and EU, also confirmed the information to Myth Detector. She said:
“The Association Agreement concluded between Georgia and the European Union is of historical significance for our country. Thus, it is important that all citizens are informed about the key issues covered by the Agreement. Just therefore it is important to know that the Agreement is completely public for everyone and it does not contain any classified parts or provisions.”
The Association Agreement in both Georgian and English languages, Association Agenda, National Actions Plans for the Implementation of the Association Agreement and Association Agenda as well as Reports of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Association Agreement and the Association Agenda are available on the Georgian Foreign Ministry’s official website.
Title V of the Association Agreement is about economic cooperation and it says nothing about the sale of agricultural land to foreign citizens.
Title V of the Association Agreement envisages the EU support for Georgia in implementing economic reforms and establishing efficient market economy, as well as the exchange of statistical data between the parties and cooperation in other fields.
The decision to lift the ban on the sale of agricultural land to foreign nationals was made by the Constitutional Court of Georgia. The court built its ruling on the constitutional provision.
On December 7, the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the provision of the law, envisaging temporary ban on agricultural land sales to foreign nationals.
Prepared by Ana Chitaladze
