Tbilisi for Maintaining Trilateral Format of Georgian, Azerbaijani and Turkish Foreign Ministers' Meetings

• Wednesday, June 13, 15:52

Tbilisi.. Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia, Nino Kalandadze, expressed hope on Monday, that maintenance of trilateral format of the Georgian, Azerbaijani and Turkish Foreign Ministers' meetings would make for development of close political and economic relations between the countries.

As Georgian Foreign Ministry reported earlier, Foreign Misters from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey - Grigol Vashadze, Elmar Mamedyarov and Ahmet Davutoglu (respectively), met in Turkish city of Trabzon, on Friday, June 8. At the meeting the sides signed a joint Trabzon declaration, which reflects the basic trends of trilateral relations, such as cooperation in economic, infrastructural, transport and cultural spheres, as well as people-to-people contacts.

                "We hope that this format will be maintained, since there are close political and economic ties between the countries. Turkey and Azerbaijan are holding 1-2 places in terms of trade relations with Georgia. Therefore, it is important to hold the meetings in similar format between our countries in future as well," Kalandadze stated.

                The Trabzon declaration underlines the sides' commitment to the principles and norms of the international law, including to the principle of sovereignty, protection of territorial integrity and inviolability of state borders.

                At the tripartite meeting the sides also agreed to set up an expert group that will work on implementation of the set goals for 2013-2015.

                The next meeting will be held in Georgia in the second half on 2012. Georgian, Azeri and Turkish FMs are also expected to meet in Azerbaijan in the first half of 2013.