Tbilisi - U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Gordon called for coordinated action of Georgian political forces after a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili in Tbilisi.
He told reporters on Friday that difficulties encountered by Georgia after the tense election campaign were quite understandable but both the Georgian government and the opposition should be guided exclusively with Georgian interests, avoid confrontations and carry on the policy of integration with the West.
Gordon said the United States was attentively watching relations between the Georgian premier and president.
Saakashvili recognized results of the parliamentary election and assisted in the democratic transfer of power, the diplomat said. The United States has noted the statement of Prime Minister Ivanishvili that he was not going to amend the Georgian constitution with regard to the presidency of Saakashvili that would last for another year. The U.S. wishes that President Saakashvili and Premier Ivanishvili have no problems in their relations but cooperate for the benefit of Georgia, he said.
Ivanishvili said that Gordon had criticized the detention of former Georgian Interior Ministry officers.
“The United States, the international community and Europe have expressed their wish for the absolutely transparent trials of the detainees. We are doing our best to explain that this is not politically motivated persecution,” the premier said.
Ivanishvili thanked the United States for comprehensive assistance to Georgia.
