U.S. Official, CEC Chief Discussed Elections

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Lynn Pascoe met today with new Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) Zurab Chiaberashvili.

After the meeting with Chiaberashvili, Lynn Pascoe said that upcoming elections were in the top of the agenda during the talks. He also said that the U.S. is greatly interested in holding of fair and free presidential and parliamentary elections in Georgia.

“Along with other problematic issues, we have discussed the issue of voter lists,” Zurab Chiaberashvili said on December 4.

The Interior Ministry has already started making voter lists. During the November 2 parliamentary elections, which were canceled by the court, thousands of voters could not cast ballot, as they were not on the voter lists.  

The U.S. delegation led by Lynn Pascoe arrived in Tbilisi on December 3 to get acquainted with the current situation in Georgia and review specific assistance proposals for Georgia’s upcoming elections. 

The U.S. representatives have already held meetings with Interim President Nino Burjanadze, State Minister Zurab Zhvania and leaders of the New Rights, National Movement and Labor parties.