Ilia Darchiashvili, the candidate for the post of Foreign Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday highlighted the Government’s commitment to mediate for peace in the South Caucasus region and reintegrate it's own Russian-occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) regions only through peaceful means,
agenda.ge reports.
During his address to Parliamentary committees ahead of the vote on the new cabinet, triggered following the resignation of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on January 29 and nomination of Irakli Kobakhidze as his replacement on February 1, the official noted the concept of the Peaceful Neighbourhood Initiative, proposed by Garibashvili for facilitating talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia for their long-running conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Darchiashvili emphasised the Government had “consistently pursued a balanced approach” and had “actively facilitated” communication with the neighbouring states despite “challenging regional circumstances”.
He also reaffirmed the country's commitment to continuing the policy, which he said was “rooted in principles of peace and stability”.
Georgia has taken a significant step towards promoting peace and stability in the region. We stand ready to further engage in this direction, catering to the needs of our neighbouring countries. We envision Tbilisi as a hub for our neighbours to convene, fostering discussions on pertinent issues to build mutual trust”, he said.
The FM candidate underscored the importance of diversifying transport and energy corridors, particularly highlighting the “important role” of the Middle Corridor - a route connecting Central Asia and Europe.
He outlined Georgia's commitment to advancing efforts for enhancing energy, transport and digital connectivity with the European Union.
