Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

Georgia is located in a complicated region, and it is very important to pursue a peaceful policy, Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili said in his speech at the spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Georgian TV channels that broadcast the premier's speech live reported on Tuesday.

"As a result of the claims of a larger country [Russia], we have already lost 20 percent of our territory ... and we all know the value of peace, as we are not going to rattle sabers and will solve problems via negotiations," Ivanishvili said.

Georgia and Russia, its giant northern neighbor, have maintained no diplomatic relations since a brief war in 2008. Tbilisi broke off relations with Moscow in August 2008 when Moscow crushed a Georgian assault to reassert control over the two rebel regions -- South Ossetia and Abkhazia -- and later recognized the breakaway regions. Georgia announced the two unrecognized republics as occupied territories in September 2008.

Ivanishvili noted that immediately after his appointment to the position of Prime Minister, he established the position of the special personal representative for negotiations with Russia.

"We started peace negotiations and determined their scope -- the beginning of trade relations and cultural cooperation," Ivanishvili said.

However, Ivanishvili said that the start of direct talks does not mean that Georgia is turning down the mediation of the West in its negotiations with Russia.

"The Geneva format is the only mechanism providing for the discussion of political issues with Russian diplomats, and we are going to continue negotiations with the participation of our partners," Ivanishvili said.

Ivanishvili said Georgia is conducting a proper policy with regard to Russia and is waiting for a response. He stressed that Georgia has committed itself to maintaining peace in the region and will act on this commitment.

According to Ivanishvili, the Georgian people long ago outlined joining NATO and the EU as their goals, and this path will be continued by the new government of Georgia.

"This is a decision of not one political group, but of the whole population, therefore, we will move forward in this direction," he said.

Ivanishvili further said Abkhazia and South Ossetia are parts of Georgia, so the Ossetians and Abkhazians will of course be able to participate in the work [of PACE] as members of our [Georgian] delegation," civil.ge website reported.

"Unfortunately, Georgia has no [international] monitoring in Abkhazia and South Ossetia, so, in this regard these regions are closed," he said.

Regarding political opponents, Ivanishvili promised PACE that Georgia will not persecute them.

"The country is in the process of the restoration of justice, which has been demanded by the population," Ivanishvili said. "Specific crimes committed by former officials are being investigated by law enforcement agencies along with international organizations that will not allow for the conversion of the process of restoration of justice and the rule of law into political persecution."

According to Ivanishvili, former Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Thomas Hammarberg has been invited to Georgia to facilitate this process.

However, he advised the MEPs not to confuse the concepts of co-habitation and restoration of justice.

"We are cooperating with President Mikheil Saakashvili, and I think that the co-habitation process is proceeding normally, although with difficulty," he said.

Ethnic minorities

During his speech Ivanishvili also promised that during the next five years, Georgia will repatriate and grant nationality to those Meskheti Turks who want to return home.

According to Ivanishvili, all of the Meskheti Turks who express such a desire will be able to obtain citizenship and to return home within the five-year period.

Ivanishvili stressed that 700 people have expressed interest in repatriation so far, and they have already gained an opportunity to return to their homeland.

"There is a special commission working on this issue and I promise to fulfill our commitments completely," he added.

Meskheti Turks were deported from Georgia to Central Asia in 1944.

Ivanishvili said ethnic minorities in Georgia do not face any oppression.

"The problem is poor knowledge of the official language by minorities. I think that under the new government, we will make additional efforts to teach minorities the Georgian language, allowing them to integrate into our society," he said.

According to Ivanishvili, the Georgian government will take all necessary measures for further integration of ethnic minorities.