by Elmira Tariverdiyeva, Baku. Exclusively for VK
The ruling party lost the parliamentary elections in Georgia on October 1, but it is unlikely to affect relations between Tbilisi and Baku. Firstly, President Mikheil Saakashvili will remain in office for about a year, keeping control over foreign policy and may support short-term prospects in bilateral relations. Secondly, Bidzina Ivanishvili has already presented his vision of Azerbaijan-Georgian relations, promising friendly and close ties with Azerbaijani authorities at very soon. “We have all opportunities to establish such relations and we put all the necessary efforts into them”, the leader of Georgian Dream emphasized, thanking the government and people Azerbaijan for selling cheap gas for social demands.
“I have become great friends with our Azerbaijani citizens during electoral visits and met many Azerbaijanis, I have started to like the industrious people, so I will do all it takes for their integration in Georgian society so that they could take high-ranking positions in the government”, Ivanishvili noted.
It was taken as an important signal in Baku. There are hopes that further improvement of the partnership. “Relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia remain friendly and brotherly”, as stated by Nowruz Mamedov, head of the section for foreign relations of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, in an interview with Trend.
Azerbaijani political analysts assume that the statement of Ivanishvili is absolutely suitable and timely: Azerbaijan and Georgia are strategic partners and have friendly ties. The two South Caucasus republics have been forming partner relations for many centuries and no political force taking power in Georgia would ever neglect the resource, Azerbaijani experts believe. Georgia will not quit European integration and active cooperation with NATO. It may start a dialogue with the Kremlin, but relations with Azerbaijan will always be one of the priorities of foreign affairs for any political power in Georgia. Azerbaijan will realize its successful and evident activities in many international organizations. It is a member of the UN Security Council and Tbilisi needs to have such a partner in the region.
Moreover, Ivanishvili, as any Georgian politician, knows that strategic partnership with Azerbaijan is vital for Georgia itself, mainly in economic affairs. The states are realizing the grand project of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kara Railway. The railway will unite Georgia and Europe through Turkey, the role of Azerbaijan cannot be overestimated. Azerbaijan offers to invest $320 million in the project. Besides, the states have been successfully cooperating in the energy sphere for a ling time, they remain partners in high-scale international strategic projects, such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline. Azerbaijani companies importing fuel and commercial banks play a significant role in the energy and financial markets of Georgia. They enforce the serious ethnic potential of Azerbaijan in Georgia.
Expansion of cooperation in economy has potential opportunities. Georgia and Azerbaijan announced plans to form an electric company to export electricity to other states. Georgia will realize dam construction projects to gain new opportunities in electricity, while Azerbaijan offers investments. Another notable joint project is construction of a new carbamide factory of SOCAR at the free industrial zone in Kilevi. It is not the first investment project of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic. Azerbaijan has invested millions in the country. Azerbaijan has been taking the second position in the list of Georgian foreign trade partners for a long time. The Georgian Statistical Service says that 12.2% of all Georgian foreign trade belongs to Azerbaijan.
Good relations with Azerbaijan are the key for successful development of Georgia regardless of the people at power in Georgia. The two states have about 90 bilateral agreements. 50 of them belong to the economic sphere. No authorities would ever give up such advantageous cooperation with a geographic neighbor.
