(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 24. The South
Caucasus is currently riveting greater international attention than
ever before, reports.
It has long been known that the region has a huge energy
potential, as well as a well-developed transport infrastructure,
which allows to transfer commodities from one part of the continent
to another in the shortest amount of time. The more countries
reconsider traditional ways of doing business, the more
significance the region takes on.
Given all the supply and transportation routes established so
far through the region, the regional countries's cooperation in the
above-mentioned areas is growing in importance. Thus, two major
players of the region – Azerbaijan and Georgia – are betting on the
development of transport collaboration to further reinforce the
region's role in international relations.
On October 24, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham
Aliyev arrived in Georgia for a working visit. As the head of state
said making press statements after viewing the 'Heritage of
Karabakh Khanate' exhibition at Château Mukhrani in Mtskheta
Municipality, having good relations with neighboring states is of
particular necessity for a transit country.
'To be a transit country, you must have good relations with your
neighbors. Because without good relations with neighbors, no
country can become a reliable transit state. Our friendly,
brotherly and partnership relations with Georgia create these
opportunities. Currently, as there is a great demand for energy
resources in the whole world and in Europe, Georgia and Azerbaijan
will act in a coordinated manner in this matter and ensure their
national interests by focusing on one point. Notice how important
the relations between two brotherly countries are for the region,
for Europe and for the world,' the head of state said.
Representative of the Georgian Association of Young Financiers
and Businessmen, editor-in-chief of the 'Banks and Finance'
newspaper Andria Gvidiani told Trend that the high-level visit at
such a politically difficult time is of utmost significance and
underscores the relevance of Georgia-Azerbaijan strategic
partnership.
'To begin with, President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Georgia
against the backdrop of complex geopolitical changes holds the
greatest role. This is a fact that the strong friendship between
Georgia and Azerbaijan goes back a long way. The countries have
rich experience of interaction in energy, transport, tourism, and
many other areas,' Gvidiani said.
As he added, advanced economic and political ties between the
two countries bring great benefits to both sides.
'Amidst the radical change of the geopolitics in the South
Caucasus, the region's transit potential development has taken on a
new meaning in the struggle for energy security of entire Europe.
Thus, Azerbaijan has big plans for its own energy resources and is
expected to have all new gas and electric power projects pass
through Georgia,' Gvidiani noted.
He also expressed confidence that the friendship between Georgia
and Azerbaijan will be further strengthened, and future cooperation
will be based on mutual respect, taking into account the interests
of the two countries and the region.
Moreover, President of the Caucasus International Center for the
Study of Geohistory and Geopolitics Guram Markhulia stressed that
Azerbaijan and Georgia have a lot in common, and the visit of
President Ilham Aliyev to Georgia reaffirms friendly and fraternal
relations between the two countries.
'This is more important than ever amid the situation in Ukraine,
as Europe is currently interested in regional stability, and the
economic projects implemented in our countries are crucial for
European states,' he said.
In addition, Markhulia emphasized the recent visit of President
of the European Commission Ursula Von Der Leyen to Baku and the
memorandum on boosting the supply of Azerbaijan's gas to
Europe.
'These are new projects, which are of primary importance for
Europe and the entire region,' he stated.
Therefore, the role of the South Caucasus is growing and will
continue to grow due to the clearly defined priorities of President
Ilham Aliyev's foreign policy. Following numerous bilateral
documents with the Central Asian countries, Azerbaijan is taking
decisive steps to develop relations with its closest neighbors and
find a common solution to those pressing global issues.