TBILISI, Georgia 

Georgia has taken effective steps with Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia to ensure lasting peace in the region, the country’s prime minister said Wednesday. 

“It is extremely important for us to establish lasting peace in the region,” Irakli Garibashvili said during the online Conference of Ambassadors.

Noting that he has met with the leaders of the countries in the region, Garibashvili said the Georgian side made a “peaceful, neighborly” initiative in the talks.

Underlining that he held very effective meetings with Turkish, Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders, he said: “I also had a very successful meeting in Turkey. We were welcomed by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the highest level and we took very effective steps in this direction.”

Referring to security issues, he said they prioritized ensuring the territorial integrity of the country and ending the occupation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

“We do not forget for a moment and do not lose our focus because the real dream and goal for us is to re-establish the territorial integrity of our country and liberate it from occupation,” he added.

Tbilisi fought a five-day war with Russia in 2008 over Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Georgia lost control of both areas and Russia later recognized both South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

*Writing by Gozde Bayar