03.12.2007
European Greens demand stronger EU support for Georgian free
media and elections
"It is vitally important for Georgian
democracy that the TV Channel “Imedi” is immediately allowed to broadcast
again and that more EU Long-Term Election Observers are sent to
"We have met with opposition as well
as government leaders and have found widespread uncertainty about what will happen
the day after the presidential elections on Jan. 5th. Ex-President Saakashvili has
lost almost all public support as a result of the violent suppression of peaceful
demonstrations on Nov. 7th and the closing down of opposition media," says
Lunacek.
"The EGP and its Georgian member
party appreciate that Adam Michnik, well known for his negotiating role in the
Polish transformation process, is in Tbilisi now to work on freedom of the
media and getting Imedi television back on the air," says Sofia Sakhanberidze, Spokesperson of the Georgian Green Party and EGP Committee member.
"The successful conference on "Post-Soviet States: A Difficult Path to
Democracy" which
took place in Tbilisi this weekend with the participation of the recently established
Azerbaijan Green Party along with NGOs from Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan
makes us confident that there are forces in the region who are working for a peaceful
resolution of conflicts and who are working hard to strengthen European values
in the South Caucasus," say Ulrike Lunacek and Sofia Sakhanberidze.
Graham Burgess
Communications Officer
European Green Party
Tel no :+32 2 626 0724
email:graham.burgess@europeangreens.org
www.europeangreens.org