Georgia hails EU statement

Georgian ruling party the National Movement welcomed the statement of Catherine Ashton and Štefan Füle on the relations between the EU and Georgia and the upcoming parliamentary elections, press secretary of the ruling party Chiora Taktakishvili said at a briefing on Tuesday.

"We welcome the joint statement by the High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton and Commissioner Štefan Füle, on EU-Georgia relations and the upcoming elections. The statement noted the progress achieved by Georgia and in particular on reaching an agreement on free trade, visa liberalisation and the completion of the negotiations for an associate membership in the EU. This is yet another confirmation of the fact that the EU recognises implemented important reforms in Georgia, including the democratic ones," Taktakishvili said.

It is mentioned clearly in the statement that not only the government but also the opposition is responsible for the conduct of free and fair elections in Georgia, she added.

"The statement said that in the pre-election period, all parties must avoid violence, tension and hatred in their speeches.

"The EU calls on all political parties to comply with the requirements of electoral law. Simultaneously concern was expressed that some of the political parties by their actions and statements fuelled suspicions that election results will not reflect reality.

"The National Movement has taken important steps to ensure free and fair elections. In particular the new Electoral Code establishing a commission to refine the list of voters and increasing access of the media to the election was supported. The National Movement also proposed that political parties agree on common rules of conduct during the election period which commits them to renounce violence, incitement and to recognise the election results," Taktakishvili said.

She urged the electoral bloc of Georgian Dream led by billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili "to stop such actions aimed at inciting hatred and violence in the country that serve to discredit the electoral process."


/Trend/