DAS Rubin's opening remarks at the press conference (October 16)

DAS Rubin at the Press Conference in U.S. Embassy Tbilisi. Photo: State Dept

 “Thank you very much. I am very glad to be back in Georgia, and I am especially glad to be back here at such an important and exciting time for Georgia’s future. The events of the past several weeks have been an enormous victory not for any particular political party or candidate but for Georgia and for the Georgian people. Democracy is real when it is sustainable when it is expectable when it is something that lasts and when power can be transferred freely from one political party to another on a regular basis. The entire world can see that democracy in Georgia is real, it is lasting and it is setting an example for the region and the world. I have been very proud to be involved in U.S. – Georgia relations for more than 20 years now; I’ve seen Georgia make enormous progress and at this time I am especially glad to be here and to be able to convey the support of the United States, of the U.S. government of the American people for the important progress that Georgia’s making and for tremendous progress towards democracy that we’ve seen during past several weeks.”