Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made statements after their talks in the town of Mtskheta on Monday, highlighting once more the importance they attach to the bilateral relations between the two countries and their asspirations for wider regional co-operation
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said:
Today, I sincerely welcome the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev here. I thank Mr. President for visiting Georgia today.
The good neighborly relations and strategic partnership between our countries, as well as the agenda of our cooperation, emphasize the importance of your visit. I also want to emphasize that your contribution to Azerbaijan and Georgia being so close is huge. Our countries have incomparable friendly relations and close relations. Those relations are based on our historical ties and mutual respect. I am sure that our existing cooperation will rise to an even higher level for the sake of the welfare of our countries and peoples.
Today we had a very important meeting, we discussed various issues and once again emphasized the close partnership between our countries. We discussed the processes currently taking place in the world and agreed that the events taking place in Ukraine today should be resolved through negotiations.
We also considered that the events happening in the world should be resolved only through peace and stability. This is important both for our region and our peoples.
In addition, we reviewed the regional situation, contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the peace process between the two countries. Personally, I and our government hope that we will do our best to implement the policy of peace. Good neighborly relations in our region are not against any format of cooperation, we will only strengthen it, and I am sure that we can do a lot together.
Mr. President, I also support the initiative you put forward in Prague to create a cooperation format in the South Caucasus.
We considered economy, energy, transport issues. Georgia is an important country for Azerbaijan, and at the same time, Azerbaijan is also a strategic partner of Georgia. We reviewed the important projects we have already implemented. These are historical projects - Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and Middle Corridor. The projects we have implemented will be carried forward from now on and we are determined to speed them up even more.
I want to quote your father, the National Leader of your country. We have deep respect for his memory. When he was in Tbilisi, Georgia, he said that the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples are happy that they are neighboring nations. Our ancestors created those contacts, and it is our duty today to carry that collaboration forward and pass it on to future generations.
In reply, president Ilham Aliyev said:
First of all, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for inviting me to your country. We meet in this beautiful place of Georgia, very beautiful places. At the same time, it is windy, as if it is Baku wind. It shows that the wind also welcomes us to be here today. That is, I really feel at home. I am very happy to be back in Georgia.
We have frequent meetings with Mr. Prime Minister. Last year alone, Mr. Garibashvili visited Azerbaijan twice. At the same time, we meet regularly within the framework of the events held by international organizations. I am sure that today's visit will give a new impetus to the friendly and brotherly relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan. These relations are based on very deep traditions. For centuries, our peoples have lived in conditions of friendship, brotherhood, friendly neighborliness. Interstate relations are also built on this solid foundation.
Today, our strategic partnership relations have almost risen to the level of alliance. Because we actively cooperate in many areas. We constantly support each other within the framework of international organizations, at the same time, in a bilateral format. Many important projects are of special importance not only for our countries, but also for the region and Europe as a whole. As Mr. Prime Minister mentioned, many issues were discussed today. Discussions will continue. Of course, the processes taking place in the region and issues related to security were at the center of the discussions. I informed the Prime Minister about the situation after the second Karabakh war and the progress of peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We believe that after the end of the Karabakh conflict, the time has come to Let Azerbaijan and Armenia sign a peace treaty. Anyway, that's our intention. We presented our proposals consisting of five main principles to the Armenian side. I hope that the Armenian side will also show political will and sign the peace treaty with Azerbaijan on the basis of these fundamental principles recognized by the international community. If this happens, peace will come to the South Caucasus and, at the same time, opportunities for cooperation will emerge.
Today, at the same time, during the conversation, we exchanged views on the start of Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia consultations. If the Armenian side is ready for it, we are ready for it. The Armenian side will also show political will and sign the peace agreement with Azerbaijan based on these basic principles recognized by the international community. If this happens, peace will come to the South Caucasus and, at the same time, opportunities for cooperation will emerge.
As for our bilateral agenda, of course, we are pleased with the increase in our trade turnover. In 9 months of this year, mutual trade turnover has approached one billion dollars. Of course, projects implemented with the investment of Azerbaijan further strengthen our cooperation. Azerbaijan has invested more than 3 billion dollars in Georgia. This investment is mutually beneficial because it meets the interests of both parties. Of course, today we had a broad exchange of views on our future energy policy. As the Prime Minister also noted, the implemented projects are already successfully operating. We are thinking about new projects. We intend to increase gas exports to world markets. This year we will export 22 billion cubic meters, next year it will increase even more. The Memorandum on strategic partnership in the field of energy, signed between the European Commission and Azerbaijan in July of this year, indicates that Azerbaijan will double gas exports to Europe in the next 5 years. That is, our intention consists of this, and our capabilities reach this. Thus, we plan that in 2027 Azerbaijan's gas export to Europe alone will reach 20 billion cubic meters. Of course, the work to be done in this regard was discussed both in a bilateral format, and there is a need for further discussions. At the same time, exports will be increased through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline next year. We also want to use the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which is currently not in operation. We have also talked about this. I informed Mr. Prime Minister about our plans. There is a great need and great potential for this.
The new project to be implemented is related to electricity. Azerbaijan is trying to export its electricity to world markets. Of course, of course, our export direction passes through Georgia. 10 gigawatts of renewable energy can be used on freed land alone. In the Caspian Sea, this number reaches 157 gigawatts. That is, this is a number confirmed by international experts, and it is a very large number. Of course, producing and exporting this energy is our task in the coming years. Here, Georgia and Azerbaijan will actively cooperate in this field as well as in other fields. So, in short, there are great opportunities to increase the economic potential of our region - energy resources, transport corridors.
I should also say that the volume of cargo transportation between Georgia and Azerbaijan has increased by 75 percent this year. I want to inform you that we intend to increase the carrying capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to 5 million tons. For this purpose, additional investment will be made by Azerbaijan in this project this year and next year. All investments are ready and we have started this process. Because there is a great need for transport routes across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, Georgia and neighboring countries. The new transport routes meet the interests of all the countries located along the route, both in relation to the geopolitical situation and as a whole. Therefore, increasing the capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to 5 million tons, at the same time, Increasing the volume of cargo transferred from Central Asia and Asia as a whole to the West and vice versa using Georgian ports is already creating a new reality. We have to be ready for it. I must state that we want to increase the capacity of Baku International Sea Trade Port from 15 million tons to 25 million tons. All the instructions have already been given and the funds will be released. Therefore, there should be close coordination between Georgia and Azerbaijan in the field of transport. Because our joint projects must be completed at the same time. To be a transit country, you must have good relations with your neighbors. Because without these relations with neighbors, no country can become a reliable transit country. Our friendly, brotherly, partnership relations with Georgia create these opportunities. Currently, as there is a great demand for energy resources in the whole world and in Europe, Georgia and Azerbaijan will act from one front in this matter and ensure their national interests by focusing on one point. Look, see how important the relations between the two brotherly countries are for the region, for Europe and for the world.
Again, I want to say that all these successes are based on our friendship, the friendship of our peoples, the friendship of leaders and joint activities. Therefore, I want to express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for this wonderful opportunity, for inviting me to this beautiful place, and I wish prosperity, well-being and peace to the friendly, brotherly Georgian people. Thank you.
1500 Tbilisi/ 1300 CEST
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev referred to future talks in a Armena-Azerbaijan-Georgia format
Today, at the same time, during the conversation, we exchanged views on the start of Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia consultations.
"If the Armenian side is ready for it, we are ready for it," President Ilham Aliyev emphasized.
Speaking about relations with Georgia Aliyev said that relations had reached the level of alliance. Azerbaijan and Georgia constantly support each other within the framework of international organizations, Aliyev said, adding that at the same time, many important projects implemented in a bilateral format are of special importance not only for the two countries, but also for the region and the whole of Europe.
1430 Tbilisi/ 1230 CEST
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday. The Georgian presidential administration said that during the discussions the two leaders highlighted the “high level” of strategic partnership, “intensive cooperation” in trade and economy and “active political dialogue” between the two countries.
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Azerbaijan president Ilham Aliyev arrived in Tbilisi on Monday morning (24 October) for talks with prime minister Irakli Garibashvili and other Georgian leaders.
Aliyev was welcomed at Tbilisi airport by foreign minster, Ilya Darchiashvili
