Brussels, 27/05/2008 (Agence Europe) - EU foreign ministers welcomed the peaceful conduct of the parliamentary elections on 21 May in Georgia, during which President Mikheil Saakachvili's party won 120 of the 150 seats. “We are relatively pleased with the way these elections were organised”, the Slovenian foreign minister, Dimitrij Rupel, told the press. “The situation was not perfect but, generally speaking, elections were positive and represent progress compared to the last elections”, he added. In conclusions adopted on Monday 26 May, the EU27 welcome the efforts made by the Georgian authorities since presidential elections in January, and call on them to resolve the many problems and shortcomings identified by the electoral observation mission conducted by the OSCE (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
The Council now calls for constructive dialogue to be held between the government and opposition, whose main formation, which brings together several parties, only won 16 seats. It stresses the importance of ensuring stability in Georgia and underlines that there must be respect for rule of law in this country where some 30,000 demonstrators, called upon by the opposition, protested in the streets of Tblissi on Monday to challenge the results of the elections.
The Council also restates its deep concern further to the tension between Georgia and Russia (in Abkhazia) and reaffirms its full commitment to the principles of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Georgia. It calls on the parties to tone down public rhetoric and abstain from provocations and implementation of decisions that undermine the above principles. During Monday, the UN observer mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) published its report confirming that a Mig 29 of the Russian air force had brought down a Georgian UAV at the end of April over the breakaway region of Abkhazia. Foreign ministers, for their part, simply noted that the report exists, saying they would return to it during their next meeting.
The Council states its readiness to strengthen relations between the EU and Georgia, mainly through the action plan of European neighbourhood policy (ENP). It notes Georgia's wish for visa facilitation and is considering a free trade agreement with Georgia if the necessary conditions are met. CFSP High Representative Javier Solana said he would be in Tblissi next week. (A.B.)