Election Watchdog Hails US Guidelines

(Tbilisi, July 7, 2003, Civil Georgia) – The International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), which is the main election watchdog NGO in Georgia, welcomed the recommendations of the US administration over upcoming elections delivered by the former US Secretary of State James Baker.

?ISFED wants to thank Mr. Baker as well as Deputy Assistant Secretary Beth Jones of the Department of State for their visit.  We would also like to state our full support to the points addressed in the scorecard,? ISFED said in its statement issued on July 6. 

The ISFED expressed hope that the government and ?just as importantly the opposition will not prevent agreement? on composition of the election commissions, recommended by the US administration.

According to the guidelines election commission at all levels, including Central Election Commission should be composed with the five representatives of the pro-Presidential political parties. Opposition parties will be presented in the commission with the nine members. The Chairman of the CEC will be appointed by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which according to the proposal should be respected and non-politically motivated person.

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