Georgia, Turkey leaders agree on tighter cooperation

Georgia and Turkey are deepening relations in "all areas of mutual interest”, high officials of the two countries say.

Georgia’s Foreign Minister Tamar Beruchashvili met with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu separately in Ankara on Tuesday.

Beruchashvili and Erdogan discussed the strategic relations between Georgia and Turkey and welcomed the creation of the High-Level Strategic Partnership Council, which will promote wider cooperation between the two countries.

FM of #Georgia met with the President of #Turkey@RT_Erdogan. pic.twitter.com/41lG9FAciV

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) December 10, 2014

The first meeting of the new Council led by the Prime Ministers of the two countries was set to be held in the first half of 2015.

The pair also focused on energy projects of regional scale. They emphasized that joint economic and energy projects were important not only for the promotion of relations between the two countries, but also for the development of the region as a whole.

The Turkish President reaffirmed his "firm support” for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as for Georgia's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

Meanwhile during her visit to Turkey, Berchashvili urged the international community to condemn the so called treaty on 'Alliance and Strategic Partnership' signed by Russia and Georgia’s breakaway Abkhazia region on November 24.

Georgia's (left) and Turkey's (right) Foreign Ministers meeting in Ankara; Photo by MFA-Georgia press office

Addressing a joint press conference with the Turkish Foreign Minister in Ankara, Beruchashvili said the Russia-Abkhazia "illegal agreement” infringed on Georgia's territorial integrity.

The agreement said within three years, Russia and Abkhazia would establish a joint military force. The Russian army pledged to modernise the Abkhazian forces.

Referring to the agreement, Beruchashvili said: "Its provisions manifest Russia's intention to integrate Abkhazia into its economic social and legal system."

Beruchashvili added that Georgia needed the whole international community to stand strong and condemn the occupation.

Meanwhile Turkey's Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said Turkey did not recognise the agreement signed between Russia and Abkhazia. He also claimed Turkey supported Georgia's membership to NATO.

"#Turkey supports #Georgia's #EU and #NATO integration"- #Turkish FM @MevlutCavusoglu stated during PC with #Gerogian FM Tamar Beruchashvili

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) December 9, 2014

When stating Turkey and Georgia were close strategic partners, Beruchashvili noted: "We reiterated our readiness to deepen relations in all areas of mutual interest".

Later today, the three Foreign Ministers of Georgia, Turkey and Azerbaijan will hold a trilateral meeting in Turkey's northeastern province of Kars.