EU Statement on Georgian parliamentary elections (Vienna)

The European Union takes note of the preliminary findings and conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission on the November 2 Parliamentary elections in Georgia.

While the final result of the election is not yet known, the European Union regrets that they appear to have fallen short of a number of OSCE commitments and other international standards. Reports of inaccuracies in the voter list, unrealistic timelines and improvised last minute decisions threaten to contradict assessments of a positive and more transparent preparatory work of the Central Election Commission, including through the new Unified Electoral Code.

The European Union has noted signs of tension and mass demonstrations following the elections, and urges all parties to show restraint and responsibility in their actions and in their public statements.

The European Union expresses its willingness to cooperate with the Georgian authorities to help Georgia lay the basis for a better electoral framework, in the perspective amongst others of the Presidential elections in 2005.

The Acceding Countries Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia and the Associated Countries Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey align themselves with this statement.

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