Prime Minister Kobakhidze offers Georgia's hand in Azerbaijan-Armenia talks

Georgia has stepped forward with a significant offer to facilitate peace between its neighbours, Azerbaijan and Armenia.

During an interview with the First Channel of the Georgian Public Broadcaster, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia stands ready to serve as a mediator in negotiations between Azerbaijan and Armenia if both parties express interest, Caliber.Az reports citing Russian media.

“If the parties express interest to see Georgia as a mediator or be more actively involved in securing negotiations, we always express our readiness in this regard,” Kobakhidze stated. “This readiness remains unchanged now. If there is relevant interest, we are prepared to offer our assistance and support to our two neighbouring countries, Azerbaijan and Armenia.”

Georgia has previously played a mediating role in efforts to normalise relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Notably, in June 2021, through Georgia’s mediation, Azerbaijan released 15 Armenian servicemen in exchange for minefield maps provided by Yerevan. Another instance of successful mediation was the meeting between Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Tbilisi on July 16, 2022. Furthermore, in October 2023, Tbilisi hosted a trilateral meeting involving the prime ministers of Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia for the first time.

During the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, held in September, Kobakhidze reiterated Georgia’s commitment to supporting peaceful resolution efforts. “We welcome the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan, particularly the initiatives focused on normalizing relations between these neighbouring countries,” he said.

Drawing from Georgia’s own experiences, Kobakhidze emphasized the significance of peace. “Realizing how vital peace is, we are spearheading efforts to transform the South Caucasus from a region of conflict into a region of opportunity,” he stated. “We have always been, and remain, ready to provide a regional cooperation format that fosters trust and collaboration, enabling us to move forward together and harness the full potential of our region to benefit the world.”

By Tamilla Hasanova