Hillary Clinton: the United States looked forward to the holding of free and fair elections in Georgia

Long-term security and further successful development of Georgia will largely depend on the quality of its democracy, stated today, 5 June, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Batumi at a joint press conference with President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili.

Clinton noted that the United States will always stand next to the Georgian people, when it will make steps towards his or her rights and freedoms. All citizens of Georgia deserve to live in a free and democratic State, United States Secretary of State.

She said that at the previous meeting with the leaders of the Georgian opposition they debated the role of the opposition in the further development and consolidation of Georgian democracy. Civic engagement, public debate and equal for all conditions are very important for the forthcoming parliamentary elections, and the United States are eagerly awaiting that this fall, Georgia will hold free and fair elections, and in 2013, in Georgia happen democratic transfer of power, said Clinton.