TBILISI, DFWatch – EU says parliamentary and presidential elections in Georgia should meet internationally recognized standards of democracy.

A statement published on the EU’s Council on the South Caucasus webpage says the EU acknowledges Georgia’s European aspirations and choice, and the desire to build a deep and stable democracy.

“The EU welcomes Georgia’s efforts in modernizing and reforming its society and fighting corruption. The EU stresses the utmost importance of ensuring that the Parliamentary elections in 2012 and the Presidential elections in 2013 meet internationally recognized democratic standards and will closely monitor developments in Georgia leading up to the elections,” the statement says.

The document notes the necessity to strengthen democracy in the country, including strengthening the democratic institutions, ‘allowing for genuine political pluralism and freedom of assembly, free and equal access to media as well as further strengthening of the independence of the judiciary.’