Georgia-Azerbaijan dialogue critical for regional, global Impact, says Georgian FM

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili on Tuesday emphasised that the relationship between Georgia and Azerbaijan extends far beyond bilateral frameworks, holding significant regional and global importance.

In her remarks at a joint press conference with her visiting Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov, Botchorishvili highlighted Bayramov’s visit as a crucial continuation of the intense political dialogue between the two nations.

“It is a great honour for me to host Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Georgia today, and I sincerely thank you for accepting our invitation. This year, the relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan are well-reflected in our political dialogue, marked by numerous high-level visits and meetings between the Georgian and Azerbaijani sides”, the Georgian Minister said.

She underscored the historical foundation of the relationship, built on “the best examples of neighbourhood, friendship, and partnership”.

“It is on this basis that we are discussing today the deepening and strengthening of our ties. Our relations have long transcended bilateral limits; they also hold great regional and global significance. In this regard, the political dialogue between our two countries is even more interesting, necessary, and timely”, she continued.

Botchorishvili further highlighted the importance of the two countries’ mutual support for each other’s territorial integrity.

“Today, we had a very productive opportunity to review a range of issues related to our bilateral relations across various sectors and ways to strengthen our political dialogue. We also discussed regional and global developments and their impact on our countries and relations. It is particularly important that Georgia and Azerbaijan firmly support each other’s territorial integrity - our relations are built on mutual respect”, the Minister noted.

“We addressed security challenges, with the occupation of two Georgian regions remaining the main security concern for Georgia. This issue has broader regional implications, not just local significance”, the FM added.

The sides further discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including the economic sector.

“During the Georgian Prime Minister’s recent visit to Azerbaijan, it was clearly stated that the potential for economic cooperation exceeds what has currently been realised. Although existing figures are impressive, we are committed to working actively to further increase economic ties between our nations. The potential certainly exists”, Botchorishvili pointed out.

“Additionally, we touched on broader regional cooperation, including several visits made to Central Asian countries. In this context, the importance of Georgia-Azerbaijan cooperation, friendship, and partnership becomes even more pronounced. It presents an opportunity to better utilise the Middle Corridor, which is frequently discussed”, she concluded.