14:08, 10 July 2008

Rice: US understand complexities of building democracy in Georgia

Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, spoke, when meeting oppositional politicians, about the difficulties of building young democracy in Georgia, having noted that it cannot be done overnight.

"The main thing is to have a desire to establish democracy in the country," the IA "News-Georgia" quotes Ms Rice as saying.

Today Condoleezza Rice met the leaders of major oppositional parties and NGOs of Georgia and the former speaker of parliament Nino Burdzhanadze, who has recently set up the Fund for Democratic Development of Georgia.

The "Georgia Online" quotes US Ambassador John Taft that Ms Rice's visit to Georgia is an expression of support of Georgia. According to the ambassador, it also has to do with peaceful settlement of conflicts, support of territorial integrity and Saakashvili's plan for conflict settlement.