Georgia Fully Democratic State ? Saakashvili

President Saakashvili said on November 21 that Georgia was a fully democratic state, which ?meets all the criteria that a democratic country should have.?

?There is an active opposition in Georgia, which is absolutely free to express its opinions. Free elections are held in Georgia and the next free elections will be held on January 5 [the early presidential polls],? Saakashvili said at a joint news conference with his visiting Turkish counterpart, Abdullah G?l.

?The fact that there is democracy in Georgia is confirmed even at the school level where school councils elect school directors,? he said. ?At the same time, the rights of all ethnic groups are protected in Georgia ? as in Turkey, Georgia is also a multi-ethnic country and we resemble Turkey in this regard. We are learning much from Turkey in terms of the integration of ethnic minorities and tolerance.?

He said that the state of emergency was needed in Georgia in order ?to defend the democratic system from extremism, radicalism and violence.?

Saakashvili also said that he had discussed with his Turkish counterpart the possibility of sending Turkish observers to Georgia to monitor the January 5 presidential elections.

President G?l said that Georgia ?has proved that democracy in Georgia has deep roots.?

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