Georgia, Azerbaijan sign defence cooperation deal

Georgia and Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministries have signed a cooperation plan for 2017.

The deal was signed yesterday during Georgian Defence Minister Levan Izoria’s first official visit to Azerbaijan's capital Baku.

The centuries-old friendship, good neighbourly relations and strategic partnership between our peoples is a guarantee for strengthening stability in the region,” Izoria said.

I also want to underline the active dynamics in our defence cooperation, evidenced by bilateral and trilateral formats,” he added, referring to the cooperation between Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey.

Georgia's Defence Minister (L) signs the deal alongside Azerbaijan's Defence Minister. Photo by Georgian Defence Ministry's press office.

During the visit Izoria met Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and other of the country's top officials.

Both sides stressed "the importance of strategic and friendly relations” between the two countries.

At the meeting with Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Azerbaijani side said the military cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan was being carried out within the framework of programs and trainings conducted bilaterally and through NATO, as well as in the format of Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia's military structures.

Hassanov said bilateral and trilateral exercises were planned for 2017.