Azernews.Az

By Aynur Karimova

Azerbaijan and Georgia, the two neighboring South Caucasus countries successfully cooperating in regional development, transport, and other important economic projects, have voiced interest in further development of ties in a variety of fields.

Georgian Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili's visit to Azerbaijan, was praised by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev as a good sign of friendly and fraternal ties between the two countries.

Stressing the necessity of actively continuing Azerbaijani-Georgian cooperation in political, economic, humanitarian and other areas, President Aliyev noted the significance of this cooperation in terms of implementing large-scale transport, energy and economic projects, which connect the two countries.

Kvirikashvili, who was on his first foreign visit abroad in the capacity of deputy prime minister, praised bilateral relations between the two countries, and stressed the importance of further development of Azerbaijani-Georgian relations.

The international importance of joint regional projects, including the Southern Gas Corridor and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, as well as coordination issues related to the implementation of these projects were among the discussed issues as well.

Azerbaijan and Georgia established diplomatic relations in 1992, a year after gaining independence from the Soviet Union. In October 1997, Azerbaijan and Georgia became two of the four founding members of GUAM, an organization that also includes Ukraine and Moldova.

Today the two countries are successfully cooperating in the political field, and strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia is developing from day to day.

At a press conference held following a meeting of Kvirikashvili and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov, the Georgian top diplomat stated that Georgia and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

“The two countries intend to continue and develop the cooperation and play an important role in the energy transit projects,” he noted. “Our countries will continue to make every effort to play transit role between Europe and Asia.”

It is believed that President Aliyev's visit to Georgia scheduled for November 6, will give impetus for further development of relations between the two partner countries.

Kvirikashvili met with Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade as well.

As Kvirikashvili said at a meeting with Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov, Georgia is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan even further.

He believes that the re-establishment of the regional stability was an important factor in terms of the development of both countries.

Today Azerbaijan and Georgia enjoy not only good political relations, but also long-standing and successful cooperation in the energy sector. Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR is deeply involved in the energy market of the neighboring South Caucasus republic.

Azerbaijan has long been one of Georgia’s largest trade partners. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $1.35 billion in 2014.

Azerbaijan mainly exports petroleum, petroleum oils and gases, gypsum, anhydrite, plaster and other products to Georgia, while motor cars, live bovine animals, bars and rods of iron, and cement are the most imported goods from Georgia to Azerbaijan.

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Aynur Karimova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Aynur_Karimova

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