Honorable Mr. Presidents,

Esteemed friends, ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would express my gratitude to my dear brother, President of Georgia Mikhail Saakashvili for inviting me to this remarkable ceremony. With great pleasure I accepted this invitation and today we jointly make this historical step. Today three countries – Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan lay foundation of the new project important for region and the world.

Our cooperation has a long history. Our peoples have lived together for centuries. Georgia and Azerbaijan, after regaining the state independence, it was Turkey to render assistance and recognize us first. We don’t forget this and will never. Georgia and Azerbaijan, today, by strengthening their sovereignty and integrating to the world economy, of course, our relations with Turkey reach a new level. We already mutually strengthen each other and support each other, and the projects being implemented by us in region are of great importance both for our peoples and the whole world.

Perhaps, construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is a historical event. This project has been for long years discussed, but its destiny was unknown.

For long years, the talks we carried out with numerous financial structures, international organizations, unfortunately, did not yield fruit. But today, our countries showed the will and now we solve this project ourselves. All financial and technical questions have found solution, the technical economic calculations solved, and today we shall start construction of the railroad. As already noted, construction of this railroad is of exclusive importance for both region and the world, and I believe that operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad will bring more safety and more cooperation to region and the beneficiary countries will, of course, be closer, from the point of view of regional cooperation.

I am very pleased that all the projects started by Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan in region, are successfully implemented. I would say, that in start of construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad, of course, the existing parameters of our cooperation have played special role.

Started in mid-90s last century in Azerbaijan large power projects, for certain, also have played a considerable role in creation of this railway. Our cooperation has already very much greater history. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project is logic continuation of the oil-gas projects carried out owing to development of large oil-and-gas deposits of Azerbaijan and have connected Azerbaijan with Georgia and Turkey, and the projects of Baku-Supsa, and later Baku-Tbilisi-ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum. Sure, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project will also be successful, as well as the previous projects. It once again testifies that if our countries show the political will, friendly communications, principles of cooperation, then, any project will be realized. The projects causing great doubts have been realized. As known, some circles did not perceive the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum projects as real projects. They were doubtful of them. And even they stated that in Azerbaijan, there is no enough of oil for filling the BTC MEP. In following year, the BTC pipeline will function in full capacity and will transport 50 million tons of oil. And all these of 50 million tons will be the Azerbaijani oil. Also was expressed an idea that there is no necessity in construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas main, as in Azerbaijan, there is no enough gas. But today, Azerbaijan is such a country which in the last year bought from abroad 4,5 billion cubic meter of gas.. Now, Azerbaijan already transports gas to three countries. The Azerbaijani gas goes to Georgia and Turkey, and two days ago through the territory of Georgia it reached on the market of Greece. That is, it means, that the Azerbaijani gas is already delivered on the market of the European Union.

There were some who with doubt concerned to the project of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, and resisted it. We know about it, and we know them. However, in a counterbalance to it, the will of our countries has played a leading role. This is an event having huge sense. It is not simply transport project or the project connecting three countries. And from this point of view, it represents huge value. The said project testifies that our countries are as initiators of the projects promoting cooperation in region, and finance, realize them. The common will of our countries renders the positive influence on development of regions. I wish to emphasize especially that all the projects begun and successfully executed by us, are the projects, strengthening factors of cooperation and friendship. These projects are not directed against someone, they are directed exclusively on friendship and cooperation. We are friendly, brotherly countries, fraternal people also have the full right for maintenance of national interests of our countries to realize any project and we do it. Therefore, I, from this prism approach to the given project. I am very glad, that today we together do these grandiose business. In the future, this project, certainly, will lead to improvement of well-being of our people, strengthening of tendencies of cooperation existing in region. I do not doubt that after the completion of the project, the number of the parties wishing to join them and the countries will be enough greater. Now other countries wish to join our power projects, and we welcome it. We open this way, we have opened the East-West power corridor. We, for the first time have presented the world markets rich oil-and-gas deposits of Caspian Sea. We are very seriously engaged in power safety, and now everyone knows, that the question of power safety takes a predominating place in the world and especially in Europe. Safety of the countries substantially depends on power safety. We have provided own power safety. Due to what? Due to teamwork, friendship, brotherhood, unity of three countries. Today, our countries play particular role in power safety of Europe. Gas extracted in Azerbaijan through territories of Georgia and Turkey is transported to the EU countries. Our countries play very important role in questions of diversification, and this role will grow in the further. If other countries will join to our operating power infrastructures, that, certainly, regional cooperation will be enriched in new forms.

I consider, that this project will, too, render positive influence on transport safety in region. Today, as the energy issues have been pushed forward, the question of energy safety is in focus. However, transport safety represents not smaller value. By creation of this road we bring our contribution to transport safety. I am confident, that the day will come, and may be in the near future, the parties, the countries or the international financial structures which do not show today to the given project due attention, will start to cooperate with us for connection to this project. We are ready to such cooperation. We direct all the work on positive results - on cooperation, safety in region, maintenance of the order, consolidation of economic and political interests, and our interests coincide. Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, together are greater regional force. We have both natural resources and transit opportunities, both the developed infrastructure and large industrial potential, and, the most important, friendly, brotherly relations of three countries. It is very valuable, and, certainly, we shall direct henceforth all our efforts to it. I believe, that as a result of construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the relations of friendship and cooperation between us will go deep and benefit the whole region.

Dear friends, once again I cordially congratulate all of you on the occasion of this fine historical event, I wish our peoples – the Georgian, Turkish and Azerbaijani peoples of well-being, prosperity and victories. Thanks.