CONFERENCE ON THE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP OF TURKEY, AZERBAIJAN AND GEORGIA
Turan Information Agency, Azerbaijan
February 18, 2014 Tuesday
Baku/17.02.14/Turan:
Strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan , Georgia and Turkey is
based on the historical ties between the peoples of these countries ,
which are associated also by a joint economic projects and regional
security issues. At the same time , another country in the region,
Armenia is in the interests of a geopolitical fairway vector.
The essence of statements made on Monday at the conference can be
described as follows: “Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey: trilateral alliance
and the future of regional cooperation”, organized by the Centre for
Strategic Studies under the president.
In his speech the head of Political Analysis and Information Support of
the presidential administration Elnur Aslanov noted that Azerbaijan
, Georgia and Turkey implement major joint projects TAP, TANAP,
Baku-Tbilisi- Ceyhan oil and gas pipeline Baku-Tbilisi- Erzurum gas
pipeline , the Baku- Tbilisi- Kars , connecting Asia with Europe.
Aslan called the policy of Armenia ‘s unconstructive , irrational
and creating problems to regional security.
Referring to the possibility of opening the Armenian-Turkish border
, he expressed regret that a number of European and Western Funds
continue to promote this idea, although the Turkish President and Prime
Minister clearly stated that this issue will not be considered until
the Karabakh conflict remains unsettled. Aslan called on Armenia to
abandon occupation policy and join the union Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey.
Director of the Center for Strategic Studies Farhad Mammadov said
that the friendship between Azerbaijan and Georgia began in 1918 with
a joint foreign policy , as well as a joint struggle against Denikin.
Ninety five years ago, a famous social activist Yusif Vazir
Chemenzemenli said that the loss of independence of Azerbaijan means a
loss of independence of Georgia and vice versa. Currently Azerbaijan
is one of the biggest investors of Georgia, and in 2018 , Azerbaijan
will become an investor Number one for Turkey too.
According to the BP company, only one TAP project will bring Georgia
revenue of $ 2 billion a year , the country will open 17,000 new jobs;
in Turkey – 5000 jobs , Mammadov said.
Director of the Center for Policy Georgia, Cornelius Kakachia, believes
that now the fate of the region is largely dependent on the outcome of
processes in Ukraine , as well as the implementation of the EU program
“Eastern Partnership.”
Great impetus to the development of the region would be the signing
by Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine an Association Agreement with the EU.
Otherwise , Georgia and Moldova will have big problems.
Tandem of Armenia with Russia was regarded as the main source of danger
in the region even for the conflict resolution in the South Caucasus.
Experts consider it important to establish a Fund uniting young
people of the three countries, the organization of joint missions
and promoting the cooperation in the field of education, trade and
tourism. In this sense, the relations between Turkey and Georgia can
be regarded as exemplary. Citizens of both countries enjoy simplified
visa regime.
Regarding the relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan , there are
very good relations in the field of education, said Yalcin Sarikaya,
Director of the Black Sea Research Center.
Then the participants of the conference began to discussed in the
sections issues on cooperation in the defense industry, the development
of the economic potential, the future trilateral strategic cooperation,
etc. -03C04-
From: Baghdasarian