Georgian PM vows regional peace mediator role at meeting with EU representative
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday met with Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia. Photo: Government press office
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday pledged to proceed with his efforts to mediate for peace in the South Caucasus region in a meeting with Toivo Klaar, the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia.
The Government Administration said the officials discussed regional and global security challenges on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Tbilisi meeting.
Garibashvili's focus on the mediating role follows the Georgian Government's involvement in facilitating talks between Armenia and Azerbaijan during flare-ups in the intermittent conflict between the sides over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Garibashvili and Philip Reeker, the Senior Adviser of the United States Department of State for Caucasus Negotiations, brokered a deal in June 2021 that involved Azerbaijan’s release of 15 Armenian prisoners of war in exchange for receiving from Armenia a map of landmines in the Agdam district in the disputed region.
In the agreement, which followed the most recent clashes between the two counties, the captives were handed over to Armenia on the Azerbaijani-Georgian border, with the Georgian authorities attending the swap.
In July 2022, Armenian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers, Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov, held their inaugural meeting in Tbilisi, as part of the Georgian government's Peaceful Neighborhood initiative for the South Caucasus, initiated by Garibashvili to facilitate talks between the regional states.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Thursday said he “greatly” appreciated the efforts of “his friend”, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili for holding a meeting between the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Tbilisi in July.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Thursday said Georgia was “truly” a “neutral and impartial mediator” between Azerbaijan and Armenia, at a panel discussion Eurasia's Middle Corridor: From Pathway to Highway within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Georgian foreign minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Thursday said the government was “actively working” with neighbouring countries and partners both in Central Asia and in the European Union to further strengthen its role as a “strong contributor” to peace and energy security in the South Caucasus region.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Saturday welcomed his Azerbaijani and Armenian counterparts Ararat Mirzoyan and Jeyhun Bayramov in Tbilisi, noting his "pride" on the Georgian capital hosting talks between the countries of the region.
The situation in the Russian-occupied territories of Georgia was discussed on Tuesday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the Co-Chairs of the Geneva International Discussions, UN Representative Cihan Sultanoğlu, EU Special Representative Toivo Klaar and Siegfried Woeber, the senior political officer from the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center.
Toivo Klaar, the European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, on Wednesday highlighted the role of Georgia as a “bridge” in regional relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan as “very important”.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili and his deputies on Friday briefed the country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on efforts planned throughout 2023 to facilitate Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration process.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Friday said the country’s foreign policy with neighbouring countries was focused on “balanced relations”, with the Government aiming to promote “peace and stability” in the South Caucasus region.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Sunday said all three countries of the South Caucasus region - Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia - had to solve their regional and development issues “by themselves”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday departed for Azerbaijan’s capital city of Baku to participate in the Economic Forum of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia.
Zurab Pataradze, Georgia’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, on Friday said Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili would discuss ties between the countries and green energy projects with President Ilham Aliyev during his participation in the Economic Forum hosted as part of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government was interested in “further strengthening” partnership and cooperation with Azerbaijan and Central Asian states by saying the ties would “bring more prosperity and stability” to partners.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday said his country and Georgia could present themselves as a “united, strategically important team in Europe”, Azerbaijani media outlet Trend.az reported.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday highlighted friendly ties with Azerbaijan were of “strategic importance” for the Georgian Government.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said his Government was interested in establishing “long-term peace and stability” in the South Caucasus region and making a “significant contribution” to the objective.