PM highlights Georgia’s positive role in establishing peace in South Caucasus region

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said Georgia had always played a positive role in establishing peace in the South Caucasus region.

In his speech at a panel discussion on the sidelines of the ongoing Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Kobakhidze noted that all neighbouring countries were appreciating Georgia's positive role, as cooperation around the idea of ​​peace was deepening.

“Our small region is quite complex, and there are also existing conflicts between different countries in the region. Georgia has always played a positive role in establishing peace in the South Caucasus, and all our neighboring countries appreciate our positive role, as cooperation around the idea of ​​peace is deepening. Therefore, we have a peace vision for our relations with Russia”, the PM said.

“Approximately 20 percent of our territory has been occupied by the Russian Federation, and even under these conditions, we follow a very peaceful and pragmatic vision, we do not have diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, but at the same time, we pursue an intensive economic policy and have a trade partnership with it. This is also part of our vision. This vision is working”, he continued.

The Government Head further highlighted the country's economic progress that, along with peace, was a key issue in the country’s policy.

“If we take the data for 2021, the average economic growth since 2021 is 9.4 percent, which is a high indicator not only for the [South Caucasus] region, but also for Europe. This is a key issue in our policy, we are focusing our attention on this. The peace format is deepening throughout the region”, he concluded.