CEPA’s Janusz Bugajski writes “Georgia’s pivotal elections could be an example for the West.” Janusz Bugajski, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) in Washington, D.C., wrote a commentary piece in The Hill highlighting Georgia’s stability and strategic importance. Bugajski writes that “On October 31, Georgia will demonstrate that democratic elections can be conducted even amid a global pandemic and despite Russian interference. In an insecure South Caucasus, where the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is reigniting, and amid escalating conflicts in Russia’s North Caucasus, Georgia is an island of stability whose importance to the West is growing.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tells Georgian PM to prepare for membership. On Prime Minister Gakharia’s visit to Brussels, the NATO Secretary General told Gakharia to make full use of all the opportunities to move closer to NATO and to prepare for membership. The NATO leader also applauded Georgia’s continued judiciary reforms and the international community’s support for Georgia’s free and fair elections to strengthen its democracy. Stoltenberg reiterated NATO’s support for Georgia’s territorial sovereignty and integrity, calling for Russia to end its occupation.

Georgia shows improvement in World Bank survey on governance. The World Bank’s study on “Worldwide Governance Indicators” revealed that Georgia has improved in its government effectiveness and regulatory quality. The report combines governance indicators for over 200 countries for six dimensions of governance including voice and accountability, political stability and absence of violence, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and corruption. Georgia ranks 37th in the world and 24th in Europe in government effectiveness, ahead of countries such as Greece, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria, and others. In the rule of law, Georgia ranks ahead of seven NATO member states and three EU member states.

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