Thursday, December 23 2021 17:58

ArmInfo.There is absolutely nothing to be ruled out on the issue of Georgia's participation in the notorious 3 + 3 format. Gela Vasadze, Director of Regional  Programs at theGeorgian Strategic Analysis Center GSAC, expressed a  similar opinion to ArmInfo.

"At the same time, I am absolutely sure that Georgia's participation  in 3 + 3 is contrary to its national interests. Of course, the recent  statement by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu about  Georgia's participation in the next meeting in the 3 + 3 format  planned in Turkey can be viewed as a gesture of decency towards  Tbilisi. But in any case, the Georgian leadership has repeatedly  voiced its own unwillingness to participate in this format, "he  stressed.

In this light, the Georgian political scientist considers the  appearance of the Georgian flag at the first meeting in the actual 3  + 2 format held on December 10 in Moscow with the participation of  the deputy foreign ministers of Russia, Armenia, Iran, Turkey and  Azerbaijan as a result of omissions in the work of the Georgian  Foreign Ministry. According to him, Tbilisi could have avoided the  occurrence of such a scrupulous situation and prevented the  appearance of the Georgian flag at the event, at which Georgia was  virtually absent.

After refusing to participate in the meeting within the framework of  the 3 + 3 platform in Moscow, on December 22, Georgia proposed its  alternative in the form of the "Peaceful Neighborhood" format.   According to the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, the  aim of the initiative is to develop dialogue, restore trust between  neighbors and strengthen Georgia's role as a mediator of the  dialogue.

"I have all the resources to start such a dialogue, since I have very  good, friendly relations with the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan,  Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev. As you know, during the year I had  four official meetings with them. Georgia offers its neighbors the  creation of a regional platform of informal dialogue, in which  Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia will take part, "Garibashvili said.

In this light, Vasadze stressed the importance of the parties'  readiness to develop regional projects as well as Georgia's readiness  to assist in establishing peace in the South Caucasus, which was  noted during the meeting of Irakli Garibashvili with Armenian Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan within the framework of his recent visit to  Georgia.