"I congratulate the Georgian people on completing free, competitive and peaceful parliamentary elections," Rasmussen said at a news conference, referring to Monday's poll victory by the Georgian Dream opposition coalition headed by tycoon Bidzina Ivanishvili.

"These elections were a litmus test and Georgia has passed the test," he added.

"This is an historic moment in Georgia's democratic development and now it's important for all sides to come together for the good of the country," he said, urging the new government and all political forces to come together.

Commenting on the country's aspirations to join the Atlantic alliance, Rasmussen said: "NATO is committed to our close relationship with Georgia and we look forward to making this relationship even stronger."

President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose party was defeated in the election, has infuriated powerful neighbour Russia with his aspirations to join NATO.