The United States Embassy in Georgia welcomes the findings of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) final report on Georgia’s parliamentary elections.
The US Embassy stated yesterday that the report ‘underscores the continued need for important reforms, particularly in the areas of campaign finance, electoral administration compositions, and dispute resolution’.
United States Embassy Statement on the Release of the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Final Report: https://t.co/4znIVoNzil pic.twitter.com/r6QyygNheJ
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) March 6, 2021
Sharing 'these concerns' the US Embassy 'urges parliament to continue a deliberative and inclusive reform process that addresses these longstanding ODIHR recommendations'.
These important reforms will strengthen political pluralism and democracy, and help Georgia achieve its goals for increased Euro-Atlantic integration", the US Embassy said.
It further noted that 'civil society and the opposition, including opposition parties currently outside of parliament, have important perspectives that must be included'.
We call on all stakeholders to engage in good faith in the reform process, both to strengthen this Parliament and to ensure future elections are more free and fair", the statement reads.
ODIHR, which observed Georgia’s parliamentary elections last year, offers a number of recommendations to improve the conduct of elections and increase the transparency of and public confidence in the electoral process.