Gov’t to continue “national, pragmatic and peaceful” policy to ensure reconciliation with Ossetians, Abkhazians - PM
Garibashvili said there was “an absolutely realistic” chance for the sides to “unite,” adding his Government needed “sensible policy and development” to be “reunited” with citizens in the occupied regions, and noting the course had “no alternative”.Photo: Government's Administration.
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The Georgian Government “must be able” to ensure reconciliation with Ossetians and Abkhazians through a “national, pragmatic and peaceful” policy, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told reporters in the central Georgian city of Gori on Saturday.
Speaking during his weekend tour of regions to inspect ongoing infrastructure projects, Garibashvili said the Government had inherited the Russian occupation of its Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) and Abkhazia regions from the previous ruling party, and highlighted the “daily challenges” of the occupation, including detention of Georgian citizens by de facto authorities along the occupation line and their transfer to confinement in the occupied territories.
The PM said the actions by occupation forces were followed by “immediate response” from the Government, with the help of the European Union Monitoring Mission deployed along the line to observe developments.
He also highlighted the occupation had been “triggered by a senseless war and provocation that could have been avoided in 2008,” pointing to the conflict having led to a loss of “a lot of our heroes and territories”. He added the Russian army’s last contingent had left Georgian territories by 2007, before the outbreak of the war a year later.
The head of the Government stressed the war in 2008 had “completely destroyed trust” that “had been restored” between Georgians and Ossetians, pointing to citizens - including “doctors, soldiers and policemen” - being able to move “freely” in central Georgia’s now-occupied Tskhinvali region.
Garibashvili said there was “an absolutely realistic” chance for the sides to “unite,” adding his Government needed “sensible policy and development” to be “reunited” with citizens in the occupied regions, and noting the course had “no alternative”.
Irakli Zarkua, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, has called on opposition parties in Georgia to avoid "acting like the fifth column" in the country amid the crisis of the war in Ukraine.
Georgia has made the most progress among Eastern Partnership states in implementing the Association Agreement signed with the European Union, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili told reporters in the central Georgian city of Gori on Saturday.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government "guaranteed" the public a "lasting peace and no war" in the country, in comments that made references to "irresponsible rhetoric" of "internal enemies".
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chairman of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the foreign policy course of the Government was “unwavering,” while pointing to “legitimate suspicions” of a part of the domestic opposition having an interest in involving the country in conflict.
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili on Monday voiced messages of “unity” to mark Abkhazia Day with Georgian citizens, and in particular with “Abkhaz brothers and sisters” in the occupied north-western region.
The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution on the status of internally displaced persons and refugees from the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of Georgia.
Georgia’s policy focused on “peace, mutual respect and dialogue” will bring the country “closer to the day” when we continue to build a “united, strong, peaceful, democratic state” along with “Abkhaz and Ossetian brothers”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on Sunday in connection with the 30th anniversary of the Abkhazia War, which ended with the territory becoming a breakaway region of Georgia and leaving hundreds of thousands displaced.