US Secretary of State: I appreciate everything Georgian gov’t has done to encourage, facilitate safe arrival of int’l observers
Secretary Pompeo said the US remains ‘committed’ to helping Georgia implement reforms that ‘consolidate’ its democratic institutions and strengthen its democratic processes. Photo: py.usembassy.gov
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The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has thanked the Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani for his official invitation to observe Georgia’s upcoming parliamentary elections on October 31.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry published MIke Pompeo's letter on September 16:
Secretary Pompeo said in his letter that he appreciates ‘everything that the government of Georgia has done to encourage and facilitate the safe arrival of international observers’.
I share your focus on ensuring that the elections are free, fair, and transparent, in line with international standards and best practices”, Pompeo wrote.
A level of playing field; rigorous implementation of electoral reforms; and respect for human rights and the fundamental freedoms of expression, association, and assembly are vital – both on election day and in the pre- and post- election periods”, he added.
Secretary Pompeo further noted that the Department ‘will seek’ US volunteers to join the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) mission in Georgia.
- Ruling party MP: int’l observers will be able to come to Georgia for elections, despite travel limitations
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- Parliament Speaker Talakvadze: gov't to charter flights for int’l observers of October parliamentary elections
Mike Pompeo also wrote that the US ‘appreciates’ the country’s efforts to support international observers and remains ‘committed’ to helping Georgia implement reforms that ‘consolidate’ its democratic institutions and strengthen its democratic processes.
President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili has named October 31 as the date of parliamentary elections and elections of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara within Georgia. Zurabishvili said that 30 years ago, on October 28, 1990 Georgia held democratic elections and 'we should continue this tradition and represent our country to the world as an extremely democratic country'.
The Georgian government is ready to charter flights to bring in international observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections that will be held on October 31, says the Chairman of the Parliament, Archil Talakvadze.
Georgia has drafted a special safety protocol for foreign observers who will monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections in October, Georgian Parliament Speaker Archil Talakvadze stated earlier today.
Ruling party MP, former parliament speaker Irakli Kobakhidze says that international observers will be able to monitor the autumn parliamentary elections in Georgia, responding to speculations that the government is ‘deliberately maintaining’ travel restrictions to create obstacles for international observers.
OSCE/ODIHR will send 350 short-term and 28 long-term observers for Georgia’s October 31 parliamentary elections, Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier today.
IRI’s international Technical Election Assessment Mission (TEAM) has already arrived in Georgia to assess the October 31 parliamentary elections.