Correspondents of AzerTAj inform, that after ceremony of signing of documents, the presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia have held joint press conference.

The Heads of State made statement.

STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT OF GEORGIA MIKHAIL SAAKASHVILI

-Mister President!

I want to address once again with a brotherly greeting to you, and also to brotherly Azerbaijan people. With your permission, some words I shall tell on Georgian, then, naturally, we shall speak on all clear language.

I want to emphasize once again, that our economic links develop very dynamically and commodity circulation was practically doubled since you, Ilham Heydarovich, became the President of your country, and in Georgia there has come new authority. It is very landmark parameter. We are very glad, that you with understanding concern to that we struggle with smuggling, and I would like that all our neighbors also with understanding concerned to this. I think, there is something to learn form Azerbaijan.

We are interested in prosperity, development of each other. We today have reached the important agreement on reduction in railroad tariffs. It is very important to involve cargoes here. We start to unify our tax, and the custom duties and we go on a way of unification of our financial systems. And we count, that for us Azerbaijan, is naturally, the major partner, a brother, the friend, but also guarantee, a basis of our future development.

The Georgians concern especially fraternally to Azerbaijan. The basis of it is founded in the past - historically we always were friends, but especially after gaining independence. I especially want to emphasize the role of your father Heydar Aliyev which realized value of Georgia for Azerbaijan, realized value of our relations and which was the founder of new Azerbaijan statehood, the father of the modern Azerbaijan nation and, naturally, inspired the example not only Azerbaijanis, but also neighbors of Azerbaijan. In Georgia, he was very much appreciated, very much appreciate till now, I realize his role in strengthening of our region. I think, that what your father has made, what have been made last months and years by our governments, all this should be reflected in well-being, the future development of our peoples really.

We once again welcome you. Today, in Georgia, it is a big holiday, and this holiday really for each family, and not just for the government and the President of Georgia. It needs to be emphasized.

Thanks.

-0-

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV

-Mister President!

Dear ladies and gentlemen!

Dear friends!

First of all I would like to thank the President of Georgia Mr. Michael Saakashvili for the invitation to visit brotherly Georgia. Relations between our countries developed always very successfully, we were connected always with feelings of friendship, brotherhood, mutual aid, and mutual support. It is very valuable, that during becoming our states as independent, these relations developed and became stronger and today have reached the level of strategic partnership. Between Georgia and Azerbaijan there is very high level of mutual understanding, coordination of our activity both on international arena, and in the regional plan and inside our countries. We are connected closely with old cultural, historical links, and we very much are proud of this friendship, this brotherhood.

Today new heads leads Georgia and Azerbaijan. As is known, the relations between the countries also depend and on the relations between the heads of states of these countries. Not casually I have arrived in Georgia with very big delegation and I want, that all members of delegation from our side actively communicated with the Georgian colleagues that dialogue not only at a level of presidents was, but also at the level of all branches of executive authority, legislature so that these contacts had constructive character. As if to mutual understanding between the presidents, I think, there is no necessity to speak about it, I think, it is lucky that presidents of these countries are friends. We in Azerbaijan remember very successful visit of Mr. Michael Saakashvili and the negotiations carried out there, the meetings and the signed agreements even more have pulled together us. We had meetings and after that, within the framework of the international actions. At each international forum where we appeared, we always met, discussed the widest spectrum of questions. Today, I have arrived in Georgia and is very glad to this, it is very pleasant for me to be on the Georgian land, and should tell, that from first minutes of stay, I am surrounded with keen attention, and are shown warm hospitality.

We are connected with very important economic and political, transport projects, and, certainly, the future of our countries will depend on successful realization of all our plans. And the future of our countries, we are sure, will be successful and prospering. People of Azerbaijan, people of Georgia are worthy to live at the highest level, and the task of those to whom is trusted to supervise over the countries in this difficult historical interval of time, will be to do the utmost by them, that would lead our countries forward. And I am deeply convinced, that well being of our peoples is probably only at close coordination, interaction and our mutual support. All these factors are, and I am convinced that the today's meetings, the signed agreements, and also our future contacts will serve this purpose.

Once again I thank for hospitality.