Georgia and Azerbaijan: Relations Have Reached a Level of Global Significance

Relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan have long gone beyond bilateral cooperation and are of significant regional and global importance, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili said at a joint press conference with his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister arrived in Georgia on an official visit on Tuesday. During his visit, Jeyhun Bayramov will meet with Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, and Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

“Relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan have long gone beyond bilateral cooperation—they are of important regional and global significance. From this point of view, the political dialogue that exists between the two countries is particularly relevant,” Bochorishvili said.

According to the head of the Georgian Foreign Ministry, the visit of her Azerbaijani counterpart is the best continuation of the active political dialogue between the two countries.

“The history and relations between our countries are filled with the best examples of good neighborliness, friendship, and partnership. It is on this basis that today we are talking about deepening our ties and opportunities for strengthening them,” Bochorishvili noted.

According to her, at the meeting with the Azerbaijani foreign minister, the parties discussed a wide range of issues, from strengthening bilateral political dialogue to regional and global processes, as well as security challenges affecting both countries.

At the meeting, the parties also discussed important issues of economic cooperation and confirmed that the potential for developing relations between the countries is much higher than the current level.

Despite the impressive results already achieved, as Bochorishvili noted, the parties intend to continue active work to expand economic cooperation.

“In this context, the importance of cooperation, friendship, and partnership between Georgia and Azerbaijan is even greater and should be maximized so that the much-discussed Middle Corridor can be used more effectively,” Bochorishvili said.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, the same Middle Corridor, approx.) was established in February 2014 with the participation of leading companies in the field of maritime and rail transport in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. The corridor route currently runs from the Chinese-Kazakh border through Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, and Georgia to Europe.

Georgia and Azerbaijan

Georgia and Azerbaijan established diplomatic relations on November 18, 1992.

The countries are strategic partners and actively cooperate both bilaterally and within the framework of international projects, in particular, projects of strategic importance for the entire region – the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and the Southern Gas Corridor.

Azerbaijan is among Georgia's top ten trading partners. In 2024, trade turnover between the countries grew by 5.6% and amounted to $1.3 billion.

Reprinted from https://sputnik-georgia.ru/