Transcript of comments made to the media by EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell, summarising conclusions from the meeting with EU Member States Ambassadors and the US Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. on the Presidential elections in Georgia

"We extend our congratulations to Salome Zurabishvili on her election as President of Georgia, and look forward to cooperate closely with her in the future. We also congratulate the people of Georgia for having exercised their right to vote in a calm and peaceful manner.

We welcome the assessment by the International Election Observation Mission that the elections were competitive and candidates were able to campaign freely. We also note the IEOM's assessment that the process was undermined by the undue advantage enjoyed by one side and the negative character of the campaign on both sides.

We note with concern instances of misuse of administrative resources, undue pressure on voters and intimidation. We regret the overall negative campaigning, the sharp polarization of the media and the lack of analytical reporting. We condemn all acts of violence, threats of violence and hate speech during the campaign, which do not belong in a democratic society.

We encourage all sides to draw lessons from these past weeks. Investigations need to be carried out into reported irregularities and acts of violence. Such incidents are at odds with Georgian authorities' commitment to a fully fair and transparent election, and we encourage Georgian institutions to address shortcomings raised by OSCE and other observers, with a view to improving the framework for future elections.

It is necessary also to look beyond these elections. It is in Georgia's national interest for its people to come together in reconciliation; recalling that what unites this population is so much stronger and powerful than what can ever divide it. The EU and the US, as strong partners and friends of Georgia, stand ready to assist and advance further our partnerships. But from high ambitions follow high standards."