Eric Rubin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, says the media played an important role in this election. (IPN.)

TBILISI, DFWatch — Eric Rubin, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, evaluated the recent parliamentary election in Georgia on his visit to Tbilisi on Tuesday.

He said the whole world can see that democracy is real in Georgia, which can become a model country for the region.

Rubin, who is Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, on Tuesday held a press conference at the U.S. embassy after holding meetings with officials as well as members of the future government and the candidate for prime minister.

He remarked that the U.S.-Georgia partnership will remain firm and will be strengthened in the future.

Rubin spoke about the importance of free media in the country saying that in the current processes media played an important role, as information was accessible to Georgian citizens; so it is important to have alternative information sources in the country.

The process of power transfer is an example for the region, he said and this is a collective result, to which every player contributed.

At a meeting with Mikheil Saakashvili Eric Rubin said it is personal merits of the president that the current processes in Georgia are an example for the whole world.

He remarked having been at Geneva talks recently and he has seen Russian party and separatists being impressed by the election process in Georgia.

Rubin gave Saakashvili a letter from Barack Obama, in which the U.S. president writes about the importance of election in terms of Georgia’s democratic development.

“Nothing would do more to enshrine the legacy of the Rose Revolution, and to firmly link your country’s future to Europe, than conducting a free and fair election that affirms Georgia’s success as a democratic state,” the letter says.

With the elections behind you, the world sees that Georgia, under your leadership, has successfully passed this milestone. It is testimony to your commitment to democratic progress, and it will be your enduring legacy. While the electoral outcome was a deep disappointment to you and your supporters, , the results are representative of the vibrant, competitive democracy that Georgia has become during your tenure. “Moving forward, Georgia will need your continued leadership in working with the new parliament and the leaders of the Georgian Dream coalition to ensure a smooth transition as a new Government is formed. Together you will have responsibility for charting your country’s continued democratic and economic development. Your public remarks in accepting the electoral verdict demonstrated your commitment to putting the interests of all Georgians first.”

Rubin also met with Bidzina Ivanishivli, candidate for prime minister, congratulating him with the results of the election.

“We explained how successfully we conducted the election, what culture Georgian people are; we explained our coalition and people deserve victory and not the current government, which uses old ties with international media to show that Saakashvili is still a beacon of democracy,” Ivanishvili said after the meeting. “’I explained him well that Saakashvili’s role here is equal to zero.”

At the meeting they spoke about future relations and the future of the country, the Iran issue and the situation between Syria and Turkey.