'Elections in Georgia will be test of democracy'

Elections to the Parliament and then Georgian presidential elections will be an indicator of the progress made by the country in building democracy, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the final press conference with President Mikheil Saakashvili in Batumi on Tuesday.

"I believe that during the parliamentary elections and presidential elections in Georgia, everything depends on the people of Georgia. During a meeting with Saakashvili, we expressed the hope that these will be model elections and the best thing that Georgia could make for its security and democracy is to hold free and democratic elections," she said.

Clinton again called upon the Georgian authorities to carry out accurate monitoring of the election campaign and achieve maximum transparency of the elections.

She also touched the military exercise of Russia on the border of Georgia, which will be held almost at the same with the elections in Georgia.

"Yes, the exercises will be on the border of Georgia, but the decision will be made in Georgia by the Georgian people, and this election should be a strong message to the world that Georgia is a democratic country solving issues on an equal basis," Clinton said.

Clinton stressed that the U.S. will continue negotiations with the Georgian government to solve problems together. "No military exercises can prevent the will of the people who will elect their own government," she said.

In turn, Saakashvili said that Georgia "has the will" to hold democratic and free elections this fall.

"I am confident that people will make the right choice. For transparency, we have invited as many observers as possible," he said.


/Trend/