(ANSA-AFP) - BUDAPEST, NOV 7 - The leaders of France, Germany
and Poland called on Georgia Thursday to quickly probe "numerous
irregularities" during a recent parliamentary poll won by the
Russia-leaning ruling party but contested by the pro-Western
opposition. In a joint statement, the EU countries' leaders said
they were "deeply concerned by the numerous irregularities and
voter intimidation" reported during the vote. They added they
would not be able to support the ex-Soviet republic's ambitions
to join the European Union unless it showed it was serious about
carrying out necessary reforms. "If Georgia does not change
course by demonstrating concrete efforts in terms of reform...
we will not be able to support the opening of accession
negotiations with this country to the European Union," French
President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in a joint statement. The
pro-Western opposition in Georgia, a small country tucked in the
Caucasus, has refused to recognise the ruling Georgian Dream
party's win in the October 26 election or to enter the newly
elected parliament, which it calls "illegitimate". (ANSA-AFP).
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