Georgian PM discusses “importance of strategic ties” with US state department senior advisor

Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed the importance of the United States-Georgia strategic partnership and the “positive dynamic” in existing cooperation with Philip Reeker, the state department senior adviser for Caucasus negotiations and the Geneva International Discussions. 

• US official stresses Georgia “critically important” for regional peace, stability

The government administration said the officials expressed their “full readiness” to further strengthen cooperation at a working dinner in Tbilisi. 

Discussing the security situation in the South Caucasus region and his initiative to mediate between Azerbaijan and Armenia in their dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, Garibashvili noted “negotiations are the only and important way to resolve any conflict and move forward”. 

In June 2021, Garibashvili and Reeker brokered a deal which involved Azerbaijan’s release of 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for receiving from Armenia a map of landmines in the Agdam district of the region. 

• Azerbaijan releases 15 Armenian citizens through mediation of Georgian PM, US Assistant Secretary of State

In the agreement, which followed the most recent flare-up of the conflict over the region, the captives were handed over to Armenia on the Azerbaijani-Georgian border, with the Georgian authorities attending the swap.