On 16 September the Conference was organized by the Council of Europe and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) with the support of the Swiss Confederation and the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

The chairperson of CDD – Ketevan Chachava participated in the conference.    

The conference aimed at discussing the further improvement of election process, as well as considering lessons learnt in compliance with European and international standards.

Therefore, discussions were organized around four themes:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->The 2014 local self-government elections – view from the government,

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->The 2014 local elections environment,

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->The Civil society’s opinion,

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->The next cycle of elections - opportunities and challenges.

The Conference was opened by Mr. Alex Petriashvili, State Minister of Georgia on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, Mr. Alfonso Zardi, Head of the Democratic Institutions and Governance Department - Council of Europe, Mr Gunther Beachler, Ambassador of Switzerland to Georgia, and Mr. Stephen Haykin, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director.

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Participants to the Conference included members of the government and local communities, representatives of the Central Election Commission, political party representatives, the international community, the media and civil society.

Representatives of the government as well as international and local experts presented assessments, recommendations and information in regard with the 2014 Municipal Elections, including Ms. Tea Tsulukiani, Minister of Justice of Georgia, Mr. Davit Narmania, Tbilisi Mayor, Mr. Nermin Nisic, IFES - Georgia Chief of Party. The recommendations prepared by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities – based on the findings of the observation mission organized last June - was presented by Ms. Pearl Pedergnana  (Congress Member and substitute Member of the Council for Democratic Elections, Switzerland). Ms. Daria Paprocka, the Venice Commission, presented the Venice Commission’s recommendations on improving legislation and administration of elections in view of the next elections.