Georgian parliament speaker: Azerbaijani nation is our closest neighbour, friend

Chairman of Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has said that Azerbaijan is Georgia's closest neighbour and friend.

He made the statement during official reception in Tbilisi on the occasion of Independence Day of Azerbaijan, APA reports.

"We have not only strategic partnership, political and economic relations, but also deep interethnic and cultural ties. Productive cooperation between our countries in recent decades has grown to the level of a strategic partnership and has brought many positive results for our peoples and countries. Cooperation in trade, economy, culture and defence is dynamic. Regional energy and transport projects of international importance, which were launched several decades ago, have connected our countries both politically and economically," he underlined.

Papuashvili stressed that the regional project launched under Heydar Aliyev and Eduard Shevardnadze is of global importance today.

"President Eduard Shevardnadze, Heydar Aliyev and leaders of Turkey together made the impossible possible. Few could have realized the importance of such visionary projects, which gradually revived the former trade routes and now serve as a critical link between Europe and Asia. In those days, many could not understand the strategic importance of the 'Middle Corridor' in the West. These days, with the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, our cooperation is becoming increasingly important. We are ready to realize joint projects in order to promote the development of energy transport corridors," the speaker said.

Papuashvili stressed the successful development of interparliamentary relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia.

He recalled that last week he visited Azerbaijan and took part in the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Heydar Aliyev.

He added that the progress made by Azerbaijan shows that it was more advanced during Ilham Aliyev's presidency.