Saakashvili calls relations with Turkey perfect

Turkish and Georgian relations may be considered perfect, despite problems in the region, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a joint press conference with Turkish Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Trend reports.

The sides discussed trade-economic ties. Saakashvili said that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway project is one of the most important strategic developments in the region.

The Georgian National Statistical Service said that Turkey was the top trade partner of Georgia in January-June 2011. Trade turnover between Georgia and Turkey totaled $671.4 million (16.3% of total turnover) in that period, exceeding figures in the same period of 2010 by 35%. Georgia exported products worth $115.2 million to Turkey (11.1% of total Georgian exports).

Turkey shows interest in Georgian investment sphere. Turkey is the only state with an agreement on bilateral free trade with Georgia. The document was signed in Tbilisi on November 21, 2007. Georgia and Turkey also have an agreement preventing double taxation and tax evasion.