Georgian PM: “Territorial integrity number 1 priority for Georgia”

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has said that the occupation has always been and still remains the number one issue for the Georgian government.

"I am trying to look at the accusations [as if territorial integrity is no longer a priority] directed at our government without emotion but this is becoming increasingly difficult”, Kvirikashvili told journalists yesterday.

"Not a single minute has passed under our government without this problem being number one on our agenda”, he added.

Kvirikashvili said that some opponents spread "absolutely groundless rumors” among Georgia’s partners, suggesting that this issue is no longer a priority for the government.

The PM stressed that this was his main topic of discussion during his meeting with the United States’ Vice President, when he told Mike Pence: "Mr. Vice President, do not believe any poll that shows that the occupation or the issue of territorial integrity is of secondary, tertiary, or lower priority. No matter what happens in Georgia, or what sort of success we achieve, this will remain the number one issue in the minds of our people”.

Kvirikashvili also highlighted that 135 Georgian villages were lost during the occupation, rather than the creeping annexation, as the opposition suggests. And the occupation, he added, is a difficult issue that his political team inherited when it came into power.

"We will do everything to free our future generation from this heavy legacy”, he said.

"We will take steps that will lead to Georgia’s unity – peacefully and only through negotiations. We will never let anyone, especially those people – and people never change – who have been keeping our country trapped in a vicious circle for 26 years, to drag us back to the same circle. This will never happen. It is hard, but with a clear-headed approach we will take the steps that will resolve this problem”.