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Lynn Pascoe: U.S. is not taking positions on internal political disputes in Georgia

The U.S. watches increasing political standoff in Georgia closely, however refrains from “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, visited Georgia on November 18-19 and met with President Shevardnadze, the opposition leaders, as well as the leaders of the Labor, Industrialists and New Rights parties.

The current political crisis in Georgia, caused by the disputed November 2 parliamentary elections, was in the top of the agenda during the talks.

Deputy spokesman of the U.S. Department of State Adam Ereli said at a news briefing in Washington on November 18 that the purpose of Lynn Pascoe’s travel to Georgia was “to raise these issues [political crisis] at a senior level, by a senior official.”

“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 on November 18.