EU Representative: Georgia’s role as “bridge” between Armenia, Azerbaijan “very important”

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”.

In an interview with the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Klaar highlighted the importance of the three countries of the South Caucasus working together, and said he hoped their cooperation with the EU would grow.

It is very important that the three countries of the South Caucasus are able to work together and promote peace. And here, Georgia’s role, acting like a bridge between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is undoubtedly very important”, he said.

The EU official noted the 2022 meeting of foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Tbilisi, held on the backdrop of hostilities between the two countries over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, was important, adding the Georgian capital could still be used for meetings of the highest level in different formats.

It is simply logical that there would be a collaboration between such close neighbours in questions of transport, environment, energy, and so far. I see a lot of potential both now and for the future”, he noted.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday pledged to proceed with his efforts to mediate for peace in the region in a meeting with Klaar, where the officials discussed regional and global security challenges on the backdrop of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.