Georgian minister: Azerbaijan could strive to become a state that would be interesting to population of Nagorno Karabakh

• Thursday, November 1, 12:42

 "We want to settle the Abkhazian and Ossetian conflicts by turning Georgia into a country that will be interesting to the Abkhaz and Ossetic peoples, and I think Azerbaijan could also strive to become a state that would be interesting to the population of Nagorno Karabakh," Paata Zakareishvili, newly appointed Minister for Reintegration of Georgia, told ArmInfo in an online press conference on October 31.  

"It is necessary to start with small steps, with confidence building, in order the Abkhaz and Ossetic peoples no longer feel fear or threat from Georgia. Georgia must become a country that will never exude aggression. 

To restore confidence in Georgia, we must not start with political steps. It can be economic, medical, culture and sport projects. We must show that Georgia has changed and forces different from Saakashvili have come to power. I don't think that Abkhazia and Ossetia are lost, but it is Saakashvili that is responsible for the fact that Russia has recognized their independence. Recognition does not mean for us that everything is lost, indeed. It will not be easy, but we must look ahead," the minister said.

Joint online press conference of experts from various countries for Armenian, Azerbaijani and Georgian mass media on the relevant problems are organized within the project "Expansion of knowledge of Armenians and Azerbaijanis about each other and confidence building through first-hand information". The project of the "Region" Research Center (Armenia) and Peace and Democracy Institute (Azerbaijan) is supported by the British Embassies in Armenia and Azerbaijan.