Regional projects and innovations – what the presidents of Georgia and Turkey discussed

Issues of regional and bilateral cooperation were the main topic of discussion at the meeting between Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Saakashvili arrived in Ankara on August 12 on an official visit.

“Today, at the summit meetings, we discussed the active agenda of bilateral and multilateral relations between Georgia and Turkey, exchanged views on important regional issues, and outlined prospects for future cooperation,” Gaidashvili said.

According to the president, Turkey is Georgia's number one trading partner, and it is important to promote an increase in exports from Georgia so that the free trade agreement brings equal benefits to both sides.

"We discussed what steps can be taken to develop bilateral trade in order to better exploit the existing potential. It is important for us to promote an increase in exports from Georgia so that the free trade agreement brings equal benefits to both sides," Kavashvili said.

As noted by the Georgian president, attention was paid at the meeting to the concept of the Middle Corridor and its significance.

"The importance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and the Southern Gas Corridor projects was noted, as they give a new dimension to the role and function of our countries in the global geopolitical space. In addition, we discussed prospects for cooperation in the fields of culture, education, and relations between peoples," Kavashvili said.

The Georgian president also invited Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Tbilisi.

“It would be great if you could attend the Georgia-Turkey match on September 4, and we would have the opportunity to watch it together. I am sure it will be an excellent game,” Kavashvili said.

In turn, the Turkish president expressed his readiness to continue cooperation between Georgia and Turkey.

“We are two countries participating in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project, which is the backbone of the Middle Corridor, and we have strategically important oil and gas pipelines,” Erdogan said.

He expressed hope for progress in relations between the two countries for the benefit of their peoples.

“Our country has been Georgia's largest trading partner for many years, and this is further confirmation that our relations have a solid foundation,” Erdogan said.

He emphasized that thanks to the good, warm atmosphere created in Georgia, thousands of Turkish companies are operating in Georgia, and Turkish construction companies are showing great interest in Georgia's investment and infrastructure projects. In addition, three hundred large construction projects worth billions have already been implemented.

Furthermore, according to the Turkish president, he conveyed to the Georgian president his expectation of a dignified and safe return of the Meskhetian Turks to their historical homes.

“We, as Turks, will provide dignified support to this process,” Erdogan said.

In 1944, during the deportation of peoples of the USSR, Meskhetian Turks were expelled from Georgia to Central Asia. Currently, most Meskhetian Turks live outside Georgia, including in Turkey, the US, Russia, and other countries.

Regarding the upcoming match, the Turkish president noted that the match between Georgia and Turkey will further deepen relations between the countries.

“Thank you to President Kavashvili, his delegation, and a big hello to the friendly people of Georgia. The meeting between our teams will take place on September 4. It will be a qualifying match that will further deepen the friendly relations between our countries,” Erdogan said.

Georgia and Turkey are strategic partners. The countries established diplomatic relations on May 21, 1992. The states cooperate in the areas of trade, economy, energy, regional security, and education.

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