Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

The frozen conflicts in the region are hindering the development of both Azerbaijan and Georgia, Azerbaijan’s top diplomat said.

Armenia's occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory in early 1990s created a source of tension in the South Caucasus region.

"The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has hindered not only Azerbaijan's development, but also pushed Armenia into a deadlock, since Yerevan remains far from large-scale regional projects,” Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said at a joint press conference with his Georgian counterpart Tamar Beruchashvili in Tbilisi.

Mammadyarov arrived in Georgia on February 19 on a two-day official visit.

The minister also touched upon the implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, highlighting its possible contribution to the economic development of the region.

He said besides the traditional energy projects, Azerbaijan and Georgia also cooperate in the implementation of construction of BTK railway project.

"BTK project bears a geostrategic importance. We believe that Central Asian countries and Afghanistan will show their interest in this project,” he added.

Alongside the economic benefits, BTK project will also bring peace and stability to the region, believes Mammadyarov.

Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is being constructed based on trilateral intergovernmental agreement between Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. The project's implementation is planned to be completed in 2015.

The highest cargo capacity of the corridor will be 17 million metric tons per year. At the initial stage, the figure will be equal to one million passengers and 6.5 million metric tons of cargo.

Furthermore, Mammadyarov stressed Georgia's importance as a transport country for Azerbaijan's energy projects. "Azerbaijani gas will be transported to Europe in 2018-2019 through Georgia’s territory as well, and we closely cooperate in this sphere," he said.

Berucashvili, in turn, said the energy sphere was one of the most important fields of cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

"Georgia, as an electricity producing country and as a transit country plays a special role in ensuring Europe’s energy security along with Azerbaijan," she noted.

Beruchashvili added that the two neighboring countries enjoy a close cooperation in the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project.

"Naturally, the geostrategic position of Georgia and Azerbaijan allows them to develop a transport corridor between Asia and Europe. The project of BTK railway construction that will link three countries - Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey - is a proof of this cooperation," she said, adding that the Georgian section of the BTK railway has been successfully tested.

Beruchashvili called Azerbaijan a strategic partner of Georgia, who cooperates in many spheres, including trade and economy with Georgia.

“During the meeting with my Azerbaijani counterpart we also discussed the benefits that Azerbaijani investors will get in wake of the signing of a comprehensive free trade agreement between Georgia and EU,” she said.

Mammadyarov is expected to meet also with Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili and Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili during his visit.

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