Interfax: Obama congratulates Georgian president elect, has kind word for Saakashvili

TBILISI. Nov 17 (Interfax) – U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a message to Georgian president elect Giorgi Margvelashvili on his inauguration due in a few hours.

“On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Georgia as they celebrate the inauguration of a new President and mark the first time a presidential transition has taken place as the result of a peaceful, democratic election. I extend my warm congratulations to President Giorgi Margvelashvili on his inauguration day,” Obama’s message circulated by the U.S. embassy in Georgia says.

“The path to this day was marked by the contributions of many distinguished political leaders over the past twenty years, including outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili and Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, who have both played a vital role in strengthening Georgia’s democratic institutions, together with civil society and the people of Georgia,” the message says.

“I call on all of Georgia’s political leaders to work together, and continue to work with civil society, to build on this achievement,” the message says.

[featured image from Oval Office is past file photo]