TBILISI, DFWatch – U.S. Senator Richard Durbin says after familiarizing with the situation in Georgia that it was an unfortunate day for him, as he has seen a country split in two.

After arriviong yesterday, Durbin had meetings with organizations, as well as the President Saakashvili and political parties.

Durbin’s remarks came after he had been meeting with opposition political parties at Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.

The senator said he had visited a refugee settlement near the administrative border with one of the breakaway republics, where he could see construction work that Russia is engaged in on the other side.

“And I want to note that this day was very sad because I’ve seen how Georgia is split in two.”

Durbin drew the historic lines back to his first visit seven years ago, and also talked about his meeting with President Saakashvili in Chicago during the NATO summit. He said they discussed Georgia’s relations with the U.S. and NATO. This discussion was continued today, he said.

The senator thanked Georgian soldiers for their participation in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

Commenting on the upcoming parliamentary elections, Durbin said the final word is up to the voters and not international observers.

He said after meeting with the president and six opposition parties that they had agreed that the upcoming elections should be open, free and fair.