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Russia uneasy as West welcomes Georgia`s new leaders` election promise
Tbilisi, Nov 25: Georgia`s new leaders have pledged to hold rapid elections after the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze as the West hailed and Russia frowned over the manner of change in the former Soviet Republic.
Tbilisi, Nov 25: Georgia's new leaders have pledged to hold rapid elections after the resignation of President Eduard Shevardnadze as the West hailed and Russia frowned over the manner of change in the former Soviet Republic.
Former Parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze, to whom Shevardnadze handed over power after weeks of opposition protests, said yesterday elections would be held within 45 days in line with the Constitution.
"I think it necessary to hold an election as quickly as possible," said Burjanadze.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive branch, praised the bloodless nature of the protests that forced Shevardnadze from power.
In Tbilisi, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (osce) official who oversaw the disputed vote met with Burjanadze to discuss upcoming polls.
"Georgia has arrived at a moment in history when it can move forward rapidly to become one of the major democratic nations in the region," Bruce George said after the meeting.
Burjanadze said the new leadership wanted to "keep to our foreign policy, to improve our relations with Russia and other neighbours and to keep the stability inside the country."
"Our goal is to be a member of the European family, a member of the Euro-Atlantic alliance. We would like to keep up our strategic partnership with the United States, which has done a lot for our country," she said.
Bureau Report
Former Parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze, to whom Shevardnadze handed over power after weeks of opposition protests, said yesterday elections would be held within 45 days in line with the Constitution.
"I think it necessary to hold an election as quickly as possible," said Burjanadze.
The European Commission, the European Union's executive branch, praised the bloodless nature of the protests that forced Shevardnadze from power.
In Tbilisi, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (osce) official who oversaw the disputed vote met with Burjanadze to discuss upcoming polls.
"Georgia has arrived at a moment in history when it can move forward rapidly to become one of the major democratic nations in the region," Bruce George said after the meeting.
Burjanadze said the new leadership wanted to "keep to our foreign policy, to improve our relations with Russia and other neighbours and to keep the stability inside the country."
"Our goal is to be a member of the European family, a member of the Euro-Atlantic alliance. We would like to keep up our strategic partnership with the United States, which has done a lot for our country," she said.
Bureau Report