Jeffrey Sachs urges peaceful cooperation in South Caucasus, cautions against Western power games

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, the renowned economist and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, on Thursday addressed participants of the Tbilisi Regional Forum for Sustainable Development with a strong message emphasising peace, regional cooperation, and geopolitical balance in the South Caucasus.

Joining the forum virtually, Sachs delivered a keynote greeting in which he underscored Georgia’s critical geopolitical position and the importance of fostering stability throughout the region.

“I sincerely hope that the United States and the European Union will not seek to expand their power in a way that endangers Georgia”, Sachs said.

Sachs called for increased cooperation among Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, despite existing disputes.

“I urge you to prioritise clarity and cooperation in the region - I mean particularly among the South Caucasus countries: Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. These three countries are interconnected, despite ongoing disputes. Their peace is interdependent, and that peace underpins the functioning of the region, with its impressive tourism, unique ecology, agricultural productivity, energy sector, and transport connectivity”, Sachs said.

He cautioned against the region becoming entangled in global power rivalries.

“It is essential that the South Caucasus avoids being used as a pawn in Western geopolitical games. Your beautiful country, with its millennia-old civilisation, your contributions to the world, Georgia’s appeal as a tourism destination, as a hub for agriculture, manufacturing, a leader in IT, a transport corridor, and a bridge between civilisations - these are your national treasures. They are the foundation of your future prosperity and rapid growth. This is why maintaining peace is so important”, Sachs concluded.