OSCE Chairman-in-Office welcomes peaceful and orderly Georgian presidential elections

SOFIA, 5 January 2004 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, on Monday welcomed the peaceful and orderly manner in which the extraordinary presidential elections in Georgia were conducted.

He endorsed the preliminary findings and conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission and pledged his full support for its work.

"I believe that all steps should be taken to continue the political process in Georgia within the Constitution," said Minister Passy, who took over the Chairmanship of the 55-nation OSCE on 1 January.

"The Chairmanship hopes that the president-elect and the leadership of Georgia, as well as political parties and civil society in general, will maintain their country's commitment to democratic values, the building of democratic institutions and economic and social development."

The CiO stressed the importance of maintaining the territorial integrity and national unity of Georgia as a prerequisite for the democratization of the country and stability in the volatile southern Caucasus region.

"The OSCE will do its utmost, together with other relevant international organizations, to ensure continuity in the process of assistance to Georgia in tackling the present political situation, including the observation of the forthcoming parliamentary elections in the country," the OSCE Chairman-in-Office added.