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Azerbaijan, Georgia reinforce links

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  • Azerbaijan, Georgia reinforce links

    Azerbaijan, Georgia reinforce links
    By Christina Tashkevich

    03/10/2004 22:58
    The Messenger

    An Azerbaijani governmental delegation including the country's foreign
    and education ministers continues its visit to Georgia.

    The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mamedyarov, already met with
    President Mikheil Saakashvili, Prime Minister Zurab Zhvania and the
    Foreign Minister Salome Zurabishvili. Meanwhile the Minister of
    Education Misir Mardanov brought humanitarian aid with him to
    distribute to Azeri schools in Georgia. The Azeri schools in Marneuli
    and Bolnisi regions will receive textbooks and computers as a gift
    from the Azerbaijani government.

    Georgia's Minister of Education Kakha Lomaia has traveled to Georgian
    schools in Azerbaijan in similar programs to deliver text books and
    supplies.

    Azerbaijan's senior Islamic clergyman, Sheikh-ul-Islam Allakhshukur
    Pashazade is also in the delegation and is participating in an
    international religious conference in Tbilisi. Meanwhile, Pashazade
    invited the Georgian Patriarch Ilia II to visit Azerbaijan in the near
    future.

    The Azerbaijani Foreign Minister and the Georgian Prime Minister Zurab
    Zhvania discussed the future construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum
    gas pipeline during their meeting on Tuesday.

    The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline will begin
    only after the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline is constructed
    sometime in 2005.

    According to Mamedyarov, they discussed other issues of bilateral
    relations as well, including economic issues of cooperation. "We have
    very good, useful and intensive exchange of opinions," said the Azeri
    foreign minister.

    The Azeri media reports that the development of transport
    communications between the two countries was also discussed at the
    meeting.

    Meanwhile, speaking at the Tuesday briefing Mamedyarov said, "There
    are no problems in the relations of Azerbaijan and Georgia. There are
    only issues which are being decided on in constructive ways." He added
    that both countries have common interests both "on the regional and
    international level."

    Talking about Georgia's possible role as a mediator in resolving the
    Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the foreign minister said, "Baku will only
    welcome it if the Georgian side will show this initiative."

    During his visit to celebrate the 'Contract of the Century' on
    September 20, Zurab Zhvania met with Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev,
    who expressed strong support for Georgia. President Aliev said, "A
    successful Azerbaijan means a successful Georgia. And the welfare of
    Georgia means the welfare of Azerbaijan."


    The Azeri president also declared that Baku supports Tbilisi in its
    fight against "aggressive separatism" and recognizes the territorial
    integrity of Georgia.
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