Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and visiting US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Eric Rubin on Wednesday discussed Georgian-US relations, strategic cooperation and recent elections to the Georgian parliament.

Rubin said Georgia once again proved that the country has set a democratic course and the elections as well as current developments are extremely important for advancing this cause.

President Saakashvili's United National Movement (UNM) lost the October 1 parliamentary elections. Opposition coalition Georgian Dream of billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili was victorious, gaining 85 seats in the 150-seat legislature, while the UNM got 65, according to the electoral body's preliminary election tallies. With a majority in parliament, Ivanishvili is the favorite to become prime minister, while Saakashvili will remain president until his current term ends in October 2013. The Georgian Dream leader has already introduced new candidates for ministerial posts in the new Georgian government.

According to Rubin, with the latest election, Georgia reaffirmed its policy of strengthening democracy, which is testified by a transfer of power to the opposition.

"Georgia was facing a challenge in terms of these elections," Rubin told Saakashvili. "The elections did not have easy results for you. Georgia is undergoing hard times right now. However, this is extremely important for the Georgian democracy and you all understand this very well. It is your personal merit that what is happening in Georgia now is exemplary for the entire world. I attended the Geneva negotiations recently and witnessed how Russia and separatists were deeply impressed by these elections."

The deputy assistant secretary of state delivered a letter of US President Barack Obama to the Georgian president at the meeting. The letter emphasized the importance of the latest parliamentary elections in terms of Georgia's democratic development.

"It was impossible to do anything more to protect the heritage of the Rose Revolution than hold free and fair elections, which confirmed the success of Georgia as a democratic state... Now, when the election is over, the whole world sees that Georgia has overcome this phase under your leadership. It is an outcome of your democratic progress and commitment to this course, and it will be your steadfast legacy. Then, while the election results have been a big disappointment for you and your supporters, they show that a competitive democracy was shaped in Georgia during your leadership," President Obama's letter said.

The U.S. president said it is necessary for Saakashvili to continue to rule the country and work closely with the parliament.

"You together are responsible for furthering the democratic and economic development. Your public statements in connection with the recognition of the election results confirmed that the interests of all Georgians are the most important for you," Obama wrote.

During his visit to Georgia, Rubin also met with Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili. According to Georgian Dream, US Deputy Director of the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs Alan Wurtzel, Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi Alan Meltzer, political officer of the US Secretary of State Anders Lynch and US Ambassador Richard Norland participated in the meeting.

The parties discussed further development of bilateral relations.

The current situation in Iran and Syria was discussed at the meeting as well, Ivanishvili said, adding that the situation in these countries is complicated and threatens stability in the region.

Rubin said at a press conference at the US embassy in Tbilisi that Georgia has pledged the country's foreign policy will remain unchanged.

He said further, "I congratulate the people of Georgia on the process of the peaceful transfer of power. There might be some controversy... but it would be inappropriate for me to delve into internal politics. In Tbilisi, I met with the president of Georgia, and at all the meetings they promised that the country's foreign policy will be Euro-Atlantic and the close relationship between the U.S. and Georgia will continue."

US Deputy Assistant Secretary Rubin started his South Caucasus visit from the Azerbaijani capital Baku on Tuesday. He is due to leave Georgia for Armenia on Thursday.