DECLARATION BY THE PRESIDENCY ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ON THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON THE HEAD OF STATE MR. SHEVARDNADZE

The European Union has received with concern the news of the assassination attempt on the President of Georgia, Mr. SHEVARDNADZE, to whom it wishes a rapid recovery.

The EU remains concerned that, despite the end of the civil war, incidents of political violence continue in Georgia. The EU appeals to all Georgia's political forces to back the democratisation process underway, particularly the first free general elections to be held next November.

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