06/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - On the occasion of the visit to Brussels on Thursday 6 December of Georgia's prime minister, Lado Gurgenidze, the EU called for “fair and free” presidential elections to be held on 5 January 2008 and for an immediate return to freedom of the press in the country. The commissioner responsible for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, called for the TV channel, Imedi TV, which is close to the opposition and suspended by the government since the political crisis in November, to be able to resume broadcasting “as soon as possible”. She welcomed the fact that the country had agreed to send OSCE observers for the presidential election in January. The Georgian prime minister affirmed that his government would do everything in its power to ensure fair and free elections. He also stated that Georgia expected “tangible progress” in its relations with the EU, mainly with regard to the preparation of a free trade zone and visa facilitation. (H.B.)