Azerbaijani, Georgian FMs reaffirm strategic ties, eye broader regional cooperation Photo

On July 22, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Georgian counterpart Maka Botchorishvili held talks in Tbilisi, reaffirming their strategic partnership and exploring ways to boost regional cooperation across various sectors.

Minister Bayramov is on an official visit to Georgia, where he and Minister Botchorishvili led bilateral discussions that began with a one-on-one meeting and continued in an expanded format involving both delegations, Caliber.Az reports, citing Foreign Ministry of Azerbaijan.

According to a joint press statement, the ministers assessed the current state of Azerbaijani-Georgian relations, underscoring the steady progress of high-level political dialogue and the importance of reciprocal visits and regular consultations in advancing bilateral ties.

In their talks, the ministers identified energy, transport, trade, tourism, and education as priority areas for future collaboration. They stressed the strategic significance of flagship regional projects, including the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan and Baku–Tbilisi–Kars pipelines, as well as the Southern Gas Corridor. Opportunities for cooperation in green energy and digital infrastructure were also highlighted.

Particular attention was paid to the East-West Middle Corridor and its role in strengthening connectivity not only between Azerbaijan and Georgia, but also with Central Asia. Both sides welcomed the growth in bilateral trade turnover and reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining that momentum.

The ministers also discussed cultural and humanitarian ties, noting the importance of fostering mutual understanding through expanded cultural and educational exchanges.

At the regional and international levels, Bayramov and Botchorishvili reiterated their countries’ commitment to supporting each other on multilateral platforms. They also reviewed trilateral and broader multilateral cooperation formats involving both nations, pointing to growing ties with Central Asia as a foundation for new regional alignments.

Bayramov provided a detailed update on post-conflict reconstruction efforts in the territories liberated by Azerbaijan, as well as the ongoing normalisation process with Armenia. He thanked Georgia for facilitating dialogue between Baku and Yerevan, notably hosting multiple rounds of talks since 2022.

Despite progress in negotiations, Bayramov expressed concern over Armenia’s continued constitutional territorial claims, describing them as a key impediment to finalising a peace agreement.

The meeting concluded with both ministers addressing the media at a joint press conference, where they reaffirmed their shared vision for a peaceful, interconnected, and prosperous South Caucasus region.

By Aghakazim Guliyev