Georgia’s key aim is peaceful resolution of conflict
By Tea Mariamidze
Friday, August 4
Georgian Prime Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili stated at the cabinet session on Thursday that the government should do everything possible to politically regulate conflict with Russia.
“We should regulate our conflict with Russia in a peaceful and constructive manner by the support of our international strategic partners, to reconcile the peoples residing on both sides of the occupation line and unite our country. This is our main task and I do not doubt of the successful implementation of this aim," the PM stated.
Kvirikashvili made the statement while commenting on the released information that Russian President Vladimir Putin is going to arrive in Georgia’s occupied Abkhazia early this month.
“Their statements that we have heard, serve to continue the current policy. This is an attempt to legitimize the situation of the seized regions of Georgia,” he stressed.
Vano Machavariani, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Georgia also assessed the possible visit of Putin to breakaway Abkhazia.
“Putin's visit to Abkhazia is part of the annexation policy, the militarization, which is ongoing in Georgia’s Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” he told journalists on Thursday.
He stressed the importance for the country to have both long-term and short-term policies.
"Of course, the government’s long-term policy is strategic patience and ‘No’ to confrontation, but it is very important for us to be ready for any crisis,” Machavariani said. “This is needed in order to reintegrate and reconcile these regions in the long run under the condition that there is a place for Georgians, Abkhazians, Ossetians and all those who are citizens of Georgia,” he added.
The Russian media outlets report that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin is planning to visit Georgia’s western occupied Abkhazia region on August 8, on the day when the Russia-Georgia war was launched in 2008.
The media announces Putin will meet the de facto leader of the region.
Representative of Russia’s State Duma Konstantin Zatulin said Putin’s visit is connected with the tense situation in Abkhazia and the United States Vice President Mike Pence’s recent trip to Georgia.
