Georgian PM highlights country’s “very positive role” in ensuring peace in South Caucasus region

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday highlighted the country’s “very positive role” in ensuring peace in the South Caucasus region.

In his interview with the Swiss weekly magazine Die Weltwoche, Kobakhidze noted that the Georgian Government’s vision was to support peace and stability in the South Caucasus region, and further underlined the importance of peace for countries’ development.

“Our state has existed for more than 20 centuries, and thus, we have accumulated vast experience in surviving in a complex environment. Georgia has always been at the crossroads of empires and on the path of balancing interests, so this has always been part of our history. Today, we must continue balancing multiple interests around us while existing in a very challenging region”, the Prime Minister said.

“We have many problems with Russia, which is our northern neighbour. 20 percent of our territory has been occupied by Russia. Also, there are conflicts in the region around us. But, despite this, Georgia plays a very positive role in promoting peace in the region, especially in the South Caucasus region, and this is our vision, to support peace, stability in the region, because we know from our history that development cannot occur without peace”, he continued.

Kobakhidze further highlighted that the general vision of his Government was the development of the country, maintaining peace and focusing on the economic development, which in his opinion was also the key to strengthening Georgia's international positions, and further vowed to to pursue the same policy in the future.