U.S. Diplomat: U.S. not Taking Positions on Internal Disputes in Georgia

Lynn Pascoe, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, said after the meeting with President Shevardnadze on November 18 that the U.S. is “not taking positions on internal political disputes in Georgia.”

The current political crisis in Georgia, caused by the disputed November 2 parliamentary elections, was discussed during the meeting with President Shevardnadze and earlier with the opposition leaders.

“This issue should be resolved quickly and to the maximum extent to the satisfaction of everyone involved. Politics is the art of the possible and the art of compromise and it is important for Georgia to step up and do that,” he told reporters.

“Let me make clear about one thing. The U.S. is not obviously taking positions on internal political disputes in Georgia. We along with other western countries have been working for last year to be helpful in these elections for Georgians themselves,” Lynn Pascoe said at a news briefing.

“For us it is very important that the issues that have been raised in elections be resolved. But it is not our job telling people how to do it,” the U.S. diplomat said.