U.S. Official: Georgia has Work to do in Strengthening Democracy

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried said on October 20 that Georgia would strengthen as democracy “deepens and grows” in the country.

He also said at a news conference in Tbilisi that Georgia had to make more progress in strengthening its democratic institutions.

“As these institutions are strengthened – independent media, strong independent judiciary, a strong viable opposition – the Georgian state will strengthen and it is up to the Georgian government but also the Georgian society – everyone needs to do their part in building these institutions,” he said.

When asked if he saw the right signs coming from the Georgian authorities in this respect, Fried responded that the United States was “heartened that President Saakashvili undertook commitment of sort of second wave of democratic reforms.”

“We’ll look to see how this is implemented,” he added.

This post is also available in: ქართული (Georgian) Русский (Russian)