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Georgia’s Defence Minister: “We want to be a country ensuring peace in the region”

Georgia's Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan meet in Yerevan, Armenia on February 1, 2016. Photo by MOD
Agenda.ge, 02 Feb 2016 - 12:07, Tbilisi,Georgia

Georgia and Armenia are intensifying bilateral cooperation in the field of defence.

Georgia’s Defence Minister Tinatin Khidasheli is paying a two-day visit to neighbouring Armenia. Yesterday she met the country’s President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian and Defence Minister Seyran Ohanyan.

The two Defence Ministers approved an annual plan of military cooperation between Armenia and Georgia when they met in Yerevan.

Ohanyan said after the talks that joint activities planned by the Armenian and Georgian militaries for this year would focus on defence planning, training and education and international peacekeeping.

"Although Armenia and Georgia have chosen different security systems, it will not hamper the cooperation on a common bilateral agenda aimed at the reinforcement of security and stability in the region,” the Armenian Minister said at a joint press conference following the talks.

The Georgian Minister said "peace and security in the South Caucasus is the most urgent, most important question on the agenda of our countries”.

Khidasheli recalled her visit to Afghanistan two weeks ago and said: "I think having Georgian and Armenian soldiers standing together for world peace and security in Afghanistan, in Mazar-i-Sharif is one of the best examples how the countries work together regardless of the strategic differences between our states.”

"It is true that we see ourselves in different set ups but, again, I am here to talk about the issues that unite us, the issues that are of joint concern of our two countries.”

When asked by local media about relations with other neighbouring countries, Khidasheli said Georgia was interested in deepening military cooperation with Armenia despite its "strategic partnership” with Azerbaijan and Turkey.

"Turkey is a NATO member neighbour and obviously it makes our cooperation even deeper and stronger than with any other country in the neighborhood,” she said.

"Georgia is extremely grateful for all the support we receive from Turkey every time, whether it’s a political level at ministerial meetings or summits or on the ground when Georgia needs this help and support.”

She recalled the natural disaster that hit capital Tbilisi last summer and said Turkey was the first country to offer its help to Georgia, followed by other neighbours.

"And we are very grateful for this all,” Khidasheli said.

"Regardless of where we see ourselves in five, 10, 20 years, there are things that are for granted, and Armenia and Georgia are going to live together, work together and survive together.”

After meeting with President Sargsyan, Khidasheli said the parties agreed that any issue that might occur between the two sides can be "quickly solved” if there is "direct communication” between the countries.

"Our position is very simple. We want to be the country ensuring peace in the region,” said Khindasheli.

She added: "Any destabilisation, be it Nagorno-Karabakh or any other place, will be as acute problem for Georgia as it will be for the countries that will actually be involved in the conflict.”

"Just like we are trying to find peaceful ways of solving the problem of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, we are interested in seeking peace in any other direction too.”