Baku, August 30, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze.

President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze posed together for official photos.

The Azerbaijani President and the Georgian Prime Minister made speeches at the meeting.

Welcoming the Prime Minister of Georgia to Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Mamuka Bakhtadze on being appointed as Prime Minister and wished him every success in this high role. The head of state stressed that the visit by Mamuka Bakhtadze to Azerbaijan soon after his appointment as head of the Georgian Government shows again that Azerbaijani-Georgian relations are at a very high level.

President Ilham Aliyev said: Our peoples have lived in the atmosphere of friendship and good-neighborliness for centuries. Today, the ties between the two independent states rest on a solid foundation. Georgia and Azerbaijan have jointly implemented many important projects. Together we have redrawn the energy map of the world. The projects we are implementing in the transport sector together are of great importance for the Eurasian continent. The Georgian, Azerbaijani and Turkish sides are heavily involved in the implementation of these projects. I believe that at this point in time we must make additional effort to increase the turnover. I know that there is an excellent investment climate in Georgia. We are very pleased that Azerbaijan has for many years been the leading foreign investor in Georgia. We will discuss many issues today, including those related to regional cooperation. Let me cordially welcome you again and wish you a pleasant and successful visit.

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Expressing his satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of Georgia Mamuka Bakhtadze recalled that he had repeatedly visited Baku as chairman of the “Georgian Railways” joint stock company. He noted that the rapid development processes taking place in our capital had made a great impression on him and described it as an indicator of great economic progress in Azerbaijan.

Stating that the relations between the two countries were developing fast, Mamuka Bakhtadze said: Georgia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners, and this is a very great achievement. Relations between peoples are very important for us. Good-neighborly, friendly and fraternal ties are also important. Our ancestors have laid an excellent foundation for our ties, and these ties are already developing fast on this basis. The regional projects we implemented together are indeed very beneficial for international cooperation and for the region. We have achieved a lot within the framework of regional cooperation in transport, energy and other spheres. Of course, our potential is great, and I do hope that as a result of our bilateral ties and the implementation of bilateral projects, we will be able to develop this potential even more. The turnover between our countries is growing. This year it can reach a billion dollars, but this does not mean full use of it and there is potential for even more. I am sure that as a result of our bilateral cooperation in the next two years, we will be able to increase our turnover by 50-60 per cent. It is gratifying that we have effective cooperation in other spheres too, including culture, art and sports. I am glad that Azerbaijani tourists and investors feel very comfortable in Georgia. I am confident that by joint efforts we will be able to achieve even greater goals. Thank you for the warm welcome.

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Then, President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze had a working dinner.