Ambassador: Cooperation with Azerbaijan to be new Georgian government’s priority (PHOTO)

Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 9 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /

The parliamentary elections in Georgia were held transparently. According to the observers in their assessment, they stressed that Georgia is a democratic country, Georgian ambassador to Azerbaijan Teymuraz Sharashenidze said at a press conference today following the elections.

For the first time the power in Georgia has been transferred from one area to another through elections after the collapse of the USSR, he said.

Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on Oct.1. Around 14 parties and two political blocs participated in the elections.

Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on a mixed - list, majority system. Around 150 MPs must be elected - 77 on the lists (a passing barrier of five per cent) and 73 in single-seat constituencies.

According to the full preliminary data of the Georgian Central Election Commission, the Georgian Dream coalition will receive 83 deputy mandates in parliament, while the United National Movement will have 67.

According to the party lists, around 44 members will join the Parliament from the Georgian Dream coalition and 33 from United National Movement.

According to the single-party districts, Georgian Dream will get 39 deputy seats, while the United National Movement - 34.

The Georgian Dream coalition leader who won the parliamentary elections Bidzina Ivanishvili has introduced his candidates for ministerial posts in the new Georgian government at the coalition's headquarters in Tbilisi on Monday. Ivanishvili will take the post of prime minister.
The diplomat said that at present, the Georgian courts are challenging the results in several constituencies, so the results are still preliminary, but this will not impact on the distribution of power in parliament.

The Georgian President conceded defeat and on the same day announced his readiness to hand over the power, he said.

"It is pleasant that Georgia does not change its policy," Sharashenidze said. "The priority of the country's policy is European integration and cooperation in the region and with strategic partners, one of which is Azerbaijan."

"Bilateral relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan have been clearly determined in Ivanishvili's message," the diplomat said. "We have excellent relations in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres. All directions will be developed."

He said that the continuity in foreign policy will be a compulsory feature of the new government. All scheduled visits including to Azerbaijan, will be made.

"As for GUAM, I think that the new government will maintain close relations with the organisation," he said. "The delimitation of borders between Azerbaijan and Georgia is moving. Around two thirds of the border has been determined. The work will be continued with the new government. A meeting will be held soon and as there is a political will between the two parties, we hope that the issue will be resolved soon."

"After the 2008 war, there were no diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia," Sharashenidze said. "It is necessary to resolve the issues of economic and cultural relations. Afterwards, it will be possible to talk about the restoration of a dialogue."

He said the new Georgian government will not take action to the detriment of the country's territorial integrity. This is the task of the new government.