Azerbaijani President to Le Figaro: ‘our relations with Georgia are excellent’

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said in an interview with the French Le Figaro newspaper that his country’s relations with Georgia are ‘excellent’.

Azerbaijani President stressed in his remarks that the two countries call each other ‘strategic partners’. 

Azerbaijan is the first or second largest investor in Georgia, and the first or second largest taxpayer. I am saying first or second because one year it is Turkey, another year it is Azerbaijan”, Aliyev told Le Figaro.

Photo: president.az

He further underscored that Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey have a trilateral format of cooperation, as well as held presidential summits and ministerial meetings. 

We have all our major transportation and energy communication going through Georgia. We have a big Azerbaijani community in Georgia close to 300 thousand people. Therefore, relations are excellent”, he stated.

Watch President Aliyev’s virtual interview with Le Figaro:

Ilham Aliyev also added that the relations with Georgia are ‘good examples of good neighbourhood’. 

The fact that Georgia is Christian and Azerbaijan is Muslim does not make any difference. We do not look at this region from this point of view”, he stated. 

Noting that Azerbaijan is a secular country, President Aliyev said 'religion is separated from the state'.