Vector of Friendship - Georgia and Azerbaijan in the Center of Regional Stability

On January 17, 2025, the visit of Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to the Republic of Azerbaijan began.

The Prime Minister of Georgia visited the capital of Azerbaijan with a delegation consisting of First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs Maka Bochorishvili, Minister of Environment and Agriculture David Songulashvili, Minister of Culture Tinatin Rukhadze, and Head of the Government Administration Levan Zhorzholiani.

As part of the visit, Irakli Kobakhidze met with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Ali Asadov.

At the joint press conference of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for the warm welcome and congratulations on his victory in the parliamentary elections. Kobakhidze stressed that the partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan is key in ensuring security and stability in the South Caucasus region.

According to him, the cooperation between the two countries is based on the historical friendship between the peoples, which is a solid foundation for strategic partnership. The Prime Minister personally expressed special respect to Ilham Aliyev, calling him an outstanding leader and a role model in protecting the national interests of Azerbaijan.

Irakli Kobakhidze spoke in detail about the results of the 10th meeting of the Georgia-Azerbaijan Cooperation Commission, which, according to him, was productive and contributed to the discussion of new prospects for bilateral cooperation. Georgia highly appreciated the efforts of the Azerbaijani side in organizing the event and the warm welcome of the Georgian delegation.

Kobakhidze stressed that both countries respect each other's strategic national interests, their sovereignty and territorial integrity. He expressed gratitude to President Aliyev for Georgia's "strong and unwavering support" in these matters. During the bilateral meetings, the leaders discussed not only the political processes in the region, but also the global challenges that affect the positions of both countries. The Prime Minister reaffirmed Georgia's readiness to confront these challenges together with Azerbaijan.

Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized the importance of the economic dimension of bilateral relations, noting successful strategic projects such as energy and infrastructure initiatives. He stated that further development of the connectivity function connecting Europe and Asia is a special priority for both countries. The Prime Minister expressed confidence that joint work on already implemented and future projects will bring significant results. He also noted the importance of trade, noting that Azerbaijan is among Georgia's five largest trading partners.

He reaffirmed the Georgian side's desire to deepen political and economic cooperation, and expressed hope for President Aliyev's visit to Georgia in the near future.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev noted that Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's frequent visits to Azerbaijan, including the current one, the first after the elections, are a symbol of the high level of bilateral relations. He congratulated the Georgian side on the victory of the Georgian Dream party and stressed that the choice of Azerbaijan as the first foreign destination of the visit testifies to the strong friendship between the two countries.

According to the President, the peoples of Georgia and Azerbaijan have lived in friendship and good neighborliness for centuries. He noted that such relations continue today, citing the successful development of political ties between the countries as an example.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan has invested 3.6 billion dollars in the Georgian economy, which is evidence of the confidence of Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in the investment climate of Georgia. He also noted the successful cooperation in the energy sector, pointing out that thanks to transit through Georgia, Azerbaijani natural gas is supplied to 11 countries of the world, and 80% of the gas consumed in Georgia comes from Azerbaijan.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev spoke about plans to increase the volume of natural gas exports in connection with the development of new fields in Azerbaijan. In addition, he noted the development of joint projects in the field of green energy, which, in his opinion, demonstrates the responsibility of both countries to global challenges.

The President emphasized the importance of the Middle Corridor project, within which Azerbaijan and Georgia act as a link between Europe and Asia. He noted that both countries are working to develop transport infrastructure, paying special attention to digitalization and modernization. According to him, close cooperation with neighboring countries will contribute to the successful implementation of the project.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, expressed confidence in the further strengthening of cooperation between the countries. He wished success to the Georgian partners, emphasizing that Georgia's stability and prosperity have a positive impact on the entire South Caucasus region. The President assured that Azerbaijan will continue to support and develop partnership with Georgia in various fields.

Joint statements by the leaders emphasized the strategic importance of bilateral relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan. The main focus was on issues of regional stability, the development of economic cooperation, energy and infrastructure projects, and prospects for strengthening the relationship between Europe and Asia.

The 10th meeting of the Georgian-Azerbaijani Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation was held in Baku under the leadership of the Prime Ministers of Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The meeting of the commission, which was opened by Irakli Kobakhidze and Ali Asadov, discussed issues of foreign policy dialogue, trade, economic and transport cooperation. The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan for receiving the Georgian delegation and noted that the meeting would contribute to the further expansion of relations between the two countries: "I would like to confirm that Georgia and Azerbaijan firmly support each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and I would like to thank you for this." Undoubtedly, in the context of a rapidly changing and complex geopolitical situation in the region and the world, peace and stability are becoming increasingly important as a key factor in regional development and sustainable prosperity. I am confident that through joint efforts we will not only overcome all difficulties, but also use the existing opportunities for even more effective cooperation. We are sincerely interested in implementing specific practical steps and promoting cooperation in the region. Georgia offers the parties a trilateral cooperation initiative, which envisages the involvement of all three South Caucasus countries in various areas.

In the context of regional cooperation, it is important to ensure the successful functioning of energy and transport routes, resolve existing conflicts, and promote security in the region," the Prime Minister said. According to Irakli Kobakhidze, it is noteworthy that Azerbaijan has been among Georgia's five largest trading partners in recent years. In this regard, Azerbaijan is one of Georgia's most important strategic partners. We are jointly implementing such major regional projects as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Southern Gas Corridor, the Middle Corridor projects, as well as the Black Sea Undersea Cable Project. "It is necessary to focus efforts on ensuring and strengthening energy security and energy independence," Irakli Kobakhidze noted. Ali Asadov congratulated the Prime Minister of Georgia on the results of the parliamentary elections held in the country and his re-election as Prime Minister. According to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Irakli Kobakhidze's visit to Azerbaijan testifies to the high level of relations between the two countries: "2024 was a very important year in the political life of both Azerbaijan and Georgia. For the first time in the history of Azerbaijan, presidential and parliamentary elections were held on the sovereign territory of the country.

Presidential and parliamentary elections were also held in Georgia. The results of the elections held in both countries reflected the will of the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples. Taking this opportunity, I would like to once again congratulate you on your re-election as Prime Minister and the formation of the new government of Georgia. I am confident that our governments, as always, will constructively and closely cooperate and contribute to the development and prosperity of our peoples. The development of relations with Georgia is one of the priorities of Azerbaijan's foreign policy. Over the past time, our strategic partnership has reached a qualitatively new level. This cooperation covers all important areas. We are always there for each other in difficult times. I would especially like to note the mutual support in the issue of territorial integrity. Our trade and economic cooperation has always been very important. "Georgia is one of the most important trade partners of Azerbaijan," Ali Asadov said. According to the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, the megaprojects jointly implemented by Azerbaijan and Georgia are an example of successful regional cooperation. The above-mentioned projects serve the transformation of the South Caucasus, and the energy and transport map of the region has changed.

The southern corridor should be especially noted. Our countries play an important role in the implementation of this strategic project. Today, we are building a green energy bridge in Europe together. The Black Sea Submarine Power Cable project is being implemented on the territory of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary. This project plays an important role in ensuring Europe's energy security," Ali Asadov noted.

During the meeting, the Prime Ministers of Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan signed the Agreement on Economic Cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan. Agreements were also signed between the sectoral departments of the two countries. In particular, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Memorandums: on cooperation in the field of maritime transport between the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan; on cooperation in consular issues between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Gulnara Safarli

SR-CENTER.INFO