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MAIN EVENTS caucasian business week
May 12, 2014 #53
GEORGIA SEEKS MORE INVESTMENTS FROM AZERBAIJAN, TURKEY
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AZERBAIJANI, GEORGIAN, TURKISH PRESIDENTS CALL FOR EXPANSION OF TRILATERAL CO-OP
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eorgia’s capital, Tbilisi hosted a trilateral summit of the presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey on May 6. Opening the summit in the Georgian National Library, Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili stressed that Georgia’s recent cooperation with Azerbaijan and Turkey is very impressive, Trend Agency reported. He underscored that he has warm relationships with both Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Abdullah Gul. “I was very warmly greeted in Turkey, and I have already had the pleasure of meeting Ilham Aliyev twice. We both were very pleased to see each other again,” Margvelashvili said. He went on to note that the summit’s aim is to push ahead the economic projects, which are being implemented in the region. Speaking at the summit Turkish President Abdullah Gul said Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia have cooperation in various fields. Gul recalled that the presidents met in 2007 at the foundation laying ceremony of the Baku-TbilisiKars railway section, passing through the territory of Georgia. “Along with the presidential meetings, the meetings of foreign ministers are held on a regular basis,” he added. “Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey implemented a number of regional and international projects,” Gul said. “Everybody appreciates the contribution of the three countries in maintaining peace and stability in the region.” Gul expressed hope that such meetings continue in future adding that the meetings are an example of cooperation and brotherhood among the three countries in many areas. Addressing the summit, President Ilham Aliyev thanked his Georgian counterpart Giorgi Margvelashvili for taking an initiative to hold this summit. President Aliyev said he is pleased to be in Georgia again. “The ties between our countries have a long history. The bilateral relations also stand at a high level. In many cases we make joint efforts in trilateral format and put forward our joint initiatives,” he said. He went on to add that today the GeorgianTurkish-Azerbaijani cooperation is of great importance not only for these countries themselves, but also for the region and the entire world. “Our cooperation is based on common interests. At the same time, the joint projects that we are implementing have gone beyond the regional boundaries and became global,” President Aliyev underscored. Following the summit the three presidents held a trilateral meeting, during which they expressed their satisfaction with the successful cooperation among the three countries. The presidents also voiced their hope that the
Tbilisi summit would contribute to a further broadening of these relations and emphasized the significance of the global projects implemented by Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia to develop these relations. After the trilateral meeting Margvelashvili said as many countries as possible must be involved in regional projects to provide stability in the Caspian-Black Sea and Mediterranean regions. “We intend to expand the involvement of all new countries in regional projects, as their involvement will ensure the stability in the CaspianBlack Sea and Mediterranean regions,” he said at the joint press-conference. “We are expanding our cooperation to the European and Asian countries, so that more countries could use the benefits resulting from our close cooperation,” he said. President Abdullah Gul in turn said the conflicts in the South Caucasus must be resolved as part of the territorial integrity of the countries. He also stressed that along with regional issues, global issues were also discussed during the tripartite meeting. “We reiterated our support for the territorial integrity of Georgia and Azerbaijan,” President Gul said. “We stressed the importance of resolving the regional conflicts as part of peace and territorial integrity.” He added that the Ukrainian crisis was also discussed during the meeting. “We have a common opinion that the Ukrainian political crisis will have an impact on peace and stability in our region,” he said. “We stand for the settlement of the political crisis in Ukraine as part of the territorial integrity and international law.” Gul added that Turkey is closely monitoring the status of the Crimean Tatars. As for the projects implemented jointly by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, he stressed that these projects play an important role in the development and stability of the region. “Being a major energy project, TANAP increases the importance of the region,” Gul added. President Aliyev expressed confidence that a trilateral summit will be important for further development of trilateral cooperation. “I can say this trilateral format currently is of interest not only in the region but also on the global level,” President Aliyev said. “This is actually a unique format, as the three independent states have built modern, cultural and equal relations based on mutual understanding, respect and which correspond to the interests of our peoples.” President Aliyev went on to add that the sides had a very broad and honest exchange of views on future cooperation. “The ministers offered various projects to the heads of states.” Following the press-conference Margvelashvili hosted an official lunch in honor of President Aliyev and President Gul.
eorgia expects more investments from Azerbaijan and Turkey as part of joint regional projects. The news was announced by Georgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Kakha Kaladze who talked to Trend Agency on May 6. He made the comments at the opening ceremony of the Tbilisi Summit 2014 with the participation of Presidents of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. “We are on the verge of implementing the big Shah Deniz-2 energy project, which provides another opportunity for realizing our country’s transit potential,” he said. The final investment decision was made on the second phase of the Azerbaijani Shah Deniz offshore gas and condensate field’s development on December 17, 2013. Some 10 billion cubic meters of gas from the field will be supplied to the European market. The gas which will be produced in the second phase of the field’s development is to be exported to Turkey and European markets through the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and construction of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The contract for developing the Shah Deniz offshore field, which has proven reserves of 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas, was signed on June 4, 1996. Participants in the Shah Deniz field development are the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) with a share of 16.7 percent, British BP (28.8 percent), Norway’s Statoil (15.5 percent),
Iran’s NICO (10 percent), French Total (10 percent), Russia’s Lukoil (10 percent), and Turkish TPAO (9 percent). Kaladze said the implementation of the BakuTbilisi-Kars railway communication project is near completion. “It will give a new impetus to the development of regional economy,” he added. “We expect that the forum promote the integration of the three countries in the economic sphere, which will increase our people’s welfare,” the minister added. A new 105-kilometre railroad branch line within the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project is planned to be constructed. The Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Marabda railway section will also be reconstructed in Georgia, increasing its capacity to 15 million tons of cargo per year. A station in Akhalkalaki for the transition of trains from the rail tracks in Georgia to Europe is also planned to be built. The corridor’s peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. This figure will stand at one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo at the initial stage. Georgian State Minister on European and EuroAtlantic Integration Alexi Petriashvili said the meeting of the leaders of the three countries contributes to strengthening regional security, especially considering the general critical background. “The Presidents of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia will discuss regional security,” he told Trend Agency. “I think that these meetings contribute to strengthening stability in the region, which is very important in this case.”
GEORGIA, TURKEY RESPECT RELIGIOUS MINORITIES’ RIGHTS
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he standards of protecting the rights of religious minorities are equally respected in Georgia and Turkey. Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili made the statement at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul in Tbilisi. “I want to re-emphasize the infrastructural projects that are implemented jointly with the Turkish side,” he said. “These projects include making some gas pipelines and a railway. The Tbilisi summit gave additional impetus to these projects,” he added. Margvelashvili noted that during their talks, the
sides also discussed expanding cooperation in economic, cultural and military spheres. “We stressed our common view regarding the protection of cultural heritage, as well as religious groups and their rights,” he added. President Gul in turn said everyone should have the integral right of believing in the god that he has chosen. “Cultural heritage is a very important issue. Our countries have rich cultural heritage. Its restoration, taking care of it and its preservation is very important for all of us,” he said. “The religious freedom is also important. It is an integral part of democracy.”
GEORGIA’S PM ASSURES TURKEY IN SAFE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT
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here is really fair, transparent and safe investment environment in Georgia and each cent of invested funds will be protected by the law and state. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili made the remark at the Georgian-Turkish Business Forum held in Tbilisi on May 6. The event was attended by Turkish President Adullah Gul. Azerbaijani businessmen also attended the business forum. Garibashvili emphasized the volume of Turkish investment and expressed his hope for continuation of this tendency. “The door of Georgia is open for you, if you decide to start business in Georgia,” he said. Turkey is among the largest investor countries in
Georgia. Turkish companies have invested more than $1.1 billion in projects in Georgia. Garibashvili further mentioned that Turkey is a reliable ally and strategic partner of Georgia. He declared that Georgia can offer various types of high quality production for Turkish market. President Gul in turn emphasized a friendship of the two countries and welcomed the position of the Georgian government regarding to direct investments. “Friendship is the basis for everything, but for the investor to start business has not less importance the belief in the fairness,” he said. “I duly appreciate the steps made by your government in this regard. You are doing your best in order to pass all the phases of development very quickly.”
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