| Author (Person) | Cronin, David |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.9, No.40, 27.11.03, p14 |
| Publication Date | 27/11/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
|
Date: 27/11/03 THE EU stands ready to supervise January elections in Georgia following last week's bloodless coup in the former Soviet state, the Italian presidency has said. Franco Frattini, Italy's foreign minister, also declared he would be in favour of a top-level EU visit to Georgia in the near future, provided this could be arranged in cooperation with Russia. Nino Burjanadze, chair of the country's parliament, has taken over as interim president following the demonstrations which ousted veteran leader Eduard Shevardnadze from power last weekend. Burjanadze, however, announced yesterday (26 November) that she wouldnot be standing in the 4 January election, declaring instead that she would be supporting Mikhail Saakashvili, the man who orchestrated the mass protests that toppled Shevardnadze. Georgia is a significant worry for EU policymakers as it lies in a highly volatile region, neighbouring the conflict-riven breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya. It is also of considerable geopolitical importance as it a key area for the transport of oil and gas from the Caspian Sea. |
|
| Related Links |
|
| Countries / Regions | Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine |
