Georgian FM says new map materials may push changes in Georgian-Azerbaiiani border deal
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov (L) is holding his first official visit to Georgia. Photo: Foreign Ministry press office.
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Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani says that new map materials found by Georgia may bring changes to the Georgian-Azerbaijani 2006-2007 agreement on border issues.
On several occasions, the unagreed border has caused tension around Georgia’s 6th century David Gareji monastery complex which is located at the conditional border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Zalkaliani mentioned the new materials during the first official visit of Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in Georgia yesterday, expressing hope that the border issue will be settled through consensus.
Happy to welcome my colleague @bayramov_jeyhun Look forward to continuing our long-established line of cooperation and hope that during our time as Foreign Ministers we can make a substantial contribution to the development of friendship &partnership between ????????&????????@AzerbaijanMFA pic.twitter.com/GHeHQ8LUVt
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) September 24, 2020
The materials have already been sent to Azerbaijan. We are actively working on the demarcation of the border with Azerbaijan. Last year we faced incidents regarding David Gareji. We have launched active work on the border issue within a joint commission,” Zalkaliani said.
He stated that due to the pandemic the Georgian-Azerbaijani commission’s meetings were suspended. However, the commission has continued its activities without the meetings.
Zalkaliani said that the joint commission should decide whether to put changes in the 2006-2007 border agreement, ‘based on the new materials and the interests of the both nations.’
Very fruitful discussions with my colleague @bayramov_jeyhun on key issues on ????????&????????agenda, including energy & transport projects &t/strategic role they play in the region; trade-economic links, security challenges &peace and stability as precondition 4 development @AzerbaijanMFA pic.twitter.com/FQInwNlvTW
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) September 24, 2020
Azerbaijani FM is scheduled to meet with the president, the PM and vice-speakers in Tbilisi later today.
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union back in 1991, out of its four neighbouring states Georgia has agreed upon its borders only with Turkey.
The Azerbaijani border service has warned of possible provocations ‘by a group of Georgian citizens’ near Georgia’s 6th century David Gareji monastery complex, which is located at the conditional border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
The Georgian Border Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) has detained a citizen of Georgia for the illegal purchase, possession of firearms and hostage-taking on Georgia-Azerbaijani conditional border, the MIA reports.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia says that the Udabno and Chichkhituri monasteries in Georgia’s 6th Century David Gareji monastery complex, which have been closed by Azerbaijani border guards since the beginning of the year, will reopen to Georgian clerics starting tomorrow.
Georgian clerics in the 6th Century David Gareji monastery complex, which lies on the conditional border with Azerbaijan, have reported the construction of ‘two huge barracks by Azerbaijan right near the monastery complex.’
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili stated today that Georgia and Azerbaijan ‘are historical and strategic partners’. Welcoming the meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov Salome Zurabishvili said the finalisation of the border delimitation process between the two neighbouring countries is in their ‘mutual strategic interest’.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia addressed a high-level Open Government Summit which was held in the frames of the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly earlier today. PM Gakharia stressed Georgia's commitment to the principles of the Open Government Partnership initiative and the success achieved by the country on the path to democratic development.
The Georgian Chief Prosecutor’s Office has announced the launch of an investigation into the alleged unlawful giving of land to a foreign state. The Prosecutor’s Office says that the investigation has been launched according to information provided by the country’s Defence Ministry on August 17, 2020, referring to the activities of the Georgian, governmental commission working on the demarcation of the Georgian border with Azerbaijan.
Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani said Georgia has come up with solid arguments to talk about the disputed area of David Gareji monastery complex in the framework of the Georgia-Azerbaijan joint border commission.
Civic activists and opposition politicians gathered in front of the Prosecutor’s Office in Tbilisi to protest the detention of two former members of a state commission that worked on demarcation of a border between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani stated earlier today that Azerbaijan ‘has been and will remain a strategic ally and a friend of Georgia’. "Neither the launching of the investigation… not the fair process of finding solutions, within which we will try to review the preliminary agreements related to the demarcation of the border, will damage our bilateral relations”, he said.
Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has stated that the ongoing investigation into the Azerbaijan-Georgia border case will never affect the strategic partnership and friendly relations between the two countries, urging politicians to refrain from politicising the issue.
The Executive Secretary of the Georgian Dream ruling party Irakli Kobakhidze says that the investigation must reveal whether the previous United National Movement was involved in the concession of 3,500 ha of land to Azerbaijan under the party’s leadership, including the territories of Georgia’s 6th century David Gareji monastery complex.