We hope that the partnership and cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan will contribute to the long-term peace and stability in the South Caucasus, said Viktor Kipiani, lawyer and Chairman of Geocase Think Tank.

It should be noted that the governments of Georgia and Azerbaijan signed a number of agreements on the development of cooperation in the fields of culture, standardization, border security, production and business during the official visit of Georgian Prime minister Irakli Garibashvili to Baku on 28 September.

At the same time, the protocol of the eighth meeting of the joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia was signed by Prime ministers of both countries, Irakli Garibashvili and Ali Asadov.

Irakli Garibashvili also tweeted that he had a wonderful meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to discuss Georgia-Azerbaijan relations and the importance of regional transformation.

The diplomatic relations between Georgia and Azerbaijan are not only based on efficient neighbourhood, but also strong strategic and regional partnership.

Speaking to Eurasia Diary, Viktok Kipiani said that the Georgia – Azerbaijan partnership has a strong and long legacy, which started in the mid-1990 years by lying down and implementing the strategic projects such Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and South Caucasian pipeline.

According to him, the governments of Georgia and Azerbaijan have brought up truly megaprojects and, therefore, created tangible opportunities for enhancing business, trade and economic ties between two nations. He also underscored that diplomatic and political connections between two neighbouring countries have equally contributed to setting up a new landscape for the entire region.

“These days the relationships between Georgia and Azerbaijan are well advanced in many respects. That has been once again emphasized in course of the visit by the Prime Minister Irali Garibashvili to Baku and his meeting with an efficient with the President Ilham Aliyev, as well during respective talks within the framework of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation. It is a welcome sign,” Kipiani said.

Boosting up commerce and trade between two countries, Georgian expert hopes that the bilateral discussions would encourage bringing an economic partnership between two countries to a qualitatively new level.

“We very much hope that the bilateral partnership and cooperation between two countries would further contribute to achieving a long-lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus. It is not surprising that in many ways such stability and peaceful co-existence, if you will, would be an indication as to how well our nations interact with each other and cooperate on various pressing needs or challenges facing the region over the years. I should also point out that the regional initiatives brought up by Baku and Tbilisi, and - most notably, the latest by the Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on the Peaceful Neighborhood Initiative at the 76th meeting of UN General Assembly, - would hopefully delineate next steps in a right direction,” he noted.

Moreover, Kipiani mentioned at the start of the Second Karabakh, Georgia proposed Tbilisi as a venue for Armenians and Azerbaijanis to meet and discuss a ceasefire agreement.

“At the very recent UN General Assembly Tbilisi has again proposed to serve as a venue for constructive dialogue and discussions on strengthening peace and confidence-building measures among the South Caucasus nations. We hope that the implementing the initiative set forth by Garibashvili would find an active support by our strategic partners - the United States of America and the European Union. From the Georgian perspective, their participation is of key meaning to the region,” he said.

“Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic foreign policy course explicitly requires close dialogue and deliberations with our partners and allies in the West. Therefore, my view is that any meaningful contribution by the United States and European Union would further facilitate the South Caucasian nations identifying an appropriate formula for comprehensive regional framework” he added.

Georgian expert also mentioned that reciprocity in terms of respecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty is the condition for any firm and long-lasting cooperation in the South Caucasus.

“I should note that peace, stability and cooperation are simply not possible if not respecting the fundamental principles of international law and order. Among those principles are ending occupation and restoring and preserving territorial integrity and sovereignty on unconditional basis. Azerbaijan has been faced the mentioned problem for many years and that still remains with some lingering effect. And, Georgia continues facing violations of international law in case with its occupied territories” expert stressed.

Touching upon the possibility of the Peaceful Neighbourhood Initiative in the South Caucasus, Kipiani underscored that the initiative should also imply constructive and result-driven dialogue with Russia and Turkey.

“Specific details of the Peaceful Neighbourhood Initiative are yet to be worked out and that is quote challenging, of course. But for the sake of making the Initiative true, we all - Georgians, Azerbaijanis and Armenians - have to go hand in hand steadily and with all needed patience. Clearly, there is no alternative to the peaceful resolution of all pressing regional issues other than respecting each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. There is chance looking into a brighter and broader future when peace and cooperation are trumped by threats and warfare narrative”.

At the end, Georgian expert stressed that Armenia would hopefully appreciate the on-going geopolitical realities of the region.

“Yerevan should understand that it would be in his best national interests to join and contribute to the peace initiative. With a complete understanding for all the challenges between Armenia and Azerbaijan, delimitation and demarcation of the state borders between two countries would be a strong signal. Undoubtedly, that would help all of us to aim at achieving the long-lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus. Certainly, the recent meeting and statements by Irakli Garibashvili and Ilham Aliyev are of help to achieve well-intended regional agenda.”

by Yunis Abdullayev