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President Ilham Aliyev: â€œTerritorial integrity of Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as the international legal norms have been grossly violatedâ€

12 February 2014 16:09 (UTC +04:00)

The Head of State said that people-to-people contacts pave the way for the relations between countries: “Today, Georgia and Azerbaijan are two independent countries and support each other within the international organizations. We have very strong political relations. We are jointly working within the UN, Council of Europe and other international organizations and always support each other. We always support each other in the territorial integrity of our countries. Territorial integrity of Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as the international legal norms have been grossly violated.

Today, we also discussed prospects of economic cooperation. We think that there is a great potential to increase economic relations, trade turnover. The level of commercial exchange can be increased. At the same time, there are good opportunities for mutual investments and we will evaluate the details of capital investments in Georgia. However, Azerbaijani companies have already started investing in Georgia’s infrastructure, energy and transport sectors. The same can be said about the industrial sector.

Of course, we have also discussed the issues on our mutual projects on energy diversification and energy security. Energy cooperation has a good history. The major pipelines delivering oil and gas from Azerbaijan pass through the territory of Georgia. This cooperation has been very successful for long years. Of course, we have also discussed our future plans on energy diversification. As you know, the contract of the 21st century was signed in Baku in December last year. This is the biggest infrastructure and energy project in Europe. The total volume of investments will be $45 billion. Of course, Azerbaijan, Georgia, other partners and friends will do their best to realize this historical project.

Deliveries are also a significant part of our cooperation. We are implementing a project that will unite regions and continents.

We have also discussed humanitarian cooperation, people-to-people contacts. I am very pleased that Georgian President will visit Azerbaijani regions and meet with the Georgian community in Azerbaijan. Several years ago, I met with the Azerbaijanis living in Marneuli. Such meetings are very important for further development of our relations. The Georgians in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis in Georgia are our wealth. Surely, their life and activity are important for our bilateral relations. I want to say that Georgians and Azerbaijanis have always coexisted in peaceful and friendly atmosphere. We have fraternal, friendly strategic relations. Georgian President's visit proves my words once more," he said.