Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, who is paying an official visit to Azerbaijan, held talks with his counterpart Ilham Aliyev on Wednesday to discuss a wide range of issues including the development of relations between the two neighboring countries.

During the official welcoming ceremony, a guard of honor was lined up in honor of the Georgian President.

President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva welcomed President Saakashvili and his spouse Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs.

Saakashvili paid tribute to Azerbaijani late national leader Heydar Aliyev at the Alley of Honor, a cemetery and memorial in the capital Baku, and laid a wreath at his grave. He then laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame monument.

Then President Aliyev and his Georgian counterpart held a one-on-one meeting. The sides expressed their satisfaction with the successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia in various fields.

The two presidents also expressed their confidence that the relations between the two countries would continue to develop in the future as well and exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.

After talking behind closed doors, the presidents were joined by their countries' delegations for an expanded meeting. Finalizing the meeting, the presidents made press statements.

In his speech, President Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Georgia have reached the level of strategic partners, and these partnership relations are developing and strengthening.

"I am confident that in the coming years the development of these ties will be a factor bearing tremendous importance for both Georgia and Azerbaijan," Aliyev said.

"The joint projects we are implementing are of particular significance for deepening stability, peace and cooperation in the region. Today our countries and the region, the European continent cannot be imagined without our joint projects. Together with You we have made enormous efforts to resolve energy issues and achieved great success. Laying of oil and gas pipelines, the solution of energy security issues -- all this has become possible thanks to our joint efforts," the Azerbaijani president stressed.

He voiced confidence that these positive tendencies will continue in the coming years, and Azerbaijan and Georgia, two fraternal countries, as always, "will stand by each other and develop in the same direction".

President Saakashvili, for his part, said that currently the development of Baku, the infrastructure projects implemented in the country, as well as the growing well-being of the Azerbaijani people are of great importance, as Azerbaijan is an important country both in the region and in the global arena, and is the author of numerous strategic initiatives.

"Azerbaijan has exclusive merits in the creation of a positive atmosphere both in the region and in the vast Eurasian space. At the same time, Azerbaijan is a guarantor of our independence and development, and I would like to express my gratitude to each of you, especially You, Mr. President...I hope that once the development of Your country will also reflect upon our country," the Georgian president said.

Saakashvili welcomed the fact that the Georgian prime minister also paid a visit to Azerbaijan and witnessed firsthand the development ongoing in the country, adding that "this also allows us to further continue our friendship".

The Georgian president also stressed the importance of completing the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, which he regarded as a revolutionary project.

"I have no doubt that this project is our path into Europe and NATO and it will be completed in an atmosphere of close collaboration," Saakashvili said.

The Azerbaijani President and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva hosted an official reception in honor of the visiting Georgian President and his spouse Sandra Elisabeth Roelofs on the same day.

Earlier in the day, the First Ladies of Azerbaijan and Georgia held a meeting in Baku.

President Saakashvili also visited the Azerbaijani Parliament and met with Speaker Ogtay Asadov.

Asadov said the cooperation with Georgia developed rapidly and reached the point of strategic partnership. Moreover, official visits open up new possibilities for further expansion of bilateral cooperation.

Saakashvili noted that reciprocal visits had given an incentive to bilateral contacts and stressed that Georgia is interested in the development of relations with Azerbaijan in all fields.

The Georgian President arrived in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan on Thursday.

The Autonomous Republic's Supreme Assembly chairman Vasif Talibov welcomed Saakashvili at the airport.