Istanbul: The 10th trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Trkiye took place in Istanbul, with the participation of Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Georgia's Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, and Trkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Minister Bayramov emphasized the growing importance of political coordination and cooperation among countries in light of rising geopolitical tensions, disruptions in supply chains, and economic uncertainties. The Azerbaijan-Georgia-Trkiye trilateral cooperation format was highlighted as a key platform for promoting regional stability, security, and development.
Bayramov pointed to recent events such as the 10th meeting of the Foreign Relations Committees in Baku, the seventh Business Forum hosted by Georgia, and the trilateral meeting of defense ministers in Ankara as evidence of the partnership's comprehensive and multifaceted nature. He further stressed that the collaboration among Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Trkiye has been pivotal in driving regional stability and economic progress, citing successful projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway as examples.
Energy cooperation is a cornerstone of the trilateral partnership, as noted by Bayramov, with Azerbaijan exporting natural gas to 16 countries. He highlighted agreements such as the extension of the natural gas purchase and sale agreement between Azerbaijan and Georgia and the SOCAR-BOTAS agreement on gas supplies from the Absheron field, which are expected to bolster energy security.
Bayramov also discussed the significance of transport and connectivity in the trilateral relationship, mentioning the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the modernization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway. The minister underscored the potential for expanding collaboration in areas such as information and communication technologies, agriculture, and tourism, while calling for tighter coordination on challenges like security threats and climate change.
Reaffirming Azerbaijan's commitment to the trilateral partnership, Bayramov expressed support for Trkiye's preparations to host COP31 and reiterated the country's dedication to fostering sustainable development and security in the region. He also addressed the reconciliation process with Armenia and the need for resolving outstanding issues for lasting peace.
The ministers explored future prospects for trilateral cooperation and addressed regional security concerns. The meeting concluded with the signing of the Istanbul Declaration, summarizing the outcomes of their discussions. A joint press conference was held afterward, where the ministers took questions from the media.