FM hails Gov’t’s “peace policy”, PM’s diplomacy in regional conflicts
FM Darchiashvili emphasised the Georgian Dream authorities had adopted a “peace-oriented approach”. Photo: Ilia Darchiashvili’s Twitter
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Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Wednesday commended his Government's commitment to peaceful reintegration of the Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions of the country and praised Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's efforts to facilitate talks between the neighbouring Azerbaijan and Armenia in their longstanding conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
In comments for Imedi TV, Darchiashvili emphasised the Georgian Dream authorities had adopted a “peace-oriented approach” based on “firm confidence” in achieving de-occupation through “dedicated efforts” focused on “mutual reconciliation and trust restoration”.
Acknowledging the challenging nature of this path, he noted the Government's “hard work” to ensure “tangible results”.
Highlighting the benefits of the country’s European Union integration, the FM underscored the commitment to strengthen the peace policy with a focus on extending advantages of membership in the EU to citizens in the occupied regions.
Long-term peace is being guaranteed under the current leadership, and we are determined to restore our country's territorial integrity through a policy marked by peace, consistency, dignity, trustworthy negotiations and reconciliation”, he said.
The Minister also noted the Government's aspiration to contribute to regional peace and stability by mediating between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He highlighted the PM’s actions to foster “trust and stability” in the South Caucasus, emphasising the “significant role” played by Georgia as a mediator since its gaining of independence from the Soviet Union.
The Minister credited Garibashvili's efforts for “concrete outcomes” in the talks, which in 2021 saw 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 disputed region, and noted discussions involving top officials from both states in Tbilisi over the past several years.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday lauded his country’s "close cooperation" with Tbilisi on both political level and collaborative projects, and highlighted the positive impact of the "mutually beneficial" partnership on Europe while expressing optimism for a further integration of the South Caucasus region.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday highlighted the importance of peace and his office’s commitment to mediate for a peaceful South Caucasus region in a Tbilisi meeting with Arayik Harutyunyan, the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of Armenia.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday said his Government was “interested” in ensuring “lasting peace” in the South Caucasus region and was committed to facilitate related talks between neighbourly Azerbaijan and Armenia, before hailing “excellent ties” with both nations in his address at the Paris Peace Forum panel discussion.
Azerbaijan has released 15 Armenian citizens through the facilitation of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and the United States Acting Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on Tuesday highlighted the country’s “special, civilisational” ties with Europe, and further pointed out that “our European partners rightly believe that Georgia belongs to the European family”, in comments at the ongoing annual Ambassadorial Conference in Georgia's capital city of Tbilisi.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday highlighted his office had “consistently advocated” for establishment of “lasting peace and stability” in the South Caucasus region, in a Tbilisi press briefing with his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan.
Georgian Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili is participating in the 60th Munich Security Conference on the weekend as part of his visit to Germany, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.