Agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Georgia are of unprecedented importance – Irakli Kobakhidze

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 21. The agreements signed
in Azerbaijan are of unprecedented importance for Georgia’s
economic development, energy security, and the strengthening of its
transit function, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said,
Trend
reports.

“In fact, the results show that our country’s role in the Middle
Corridor is constantly growing, just as the role of the Middle
Corridor itself is increasing overall. Since 2020, cargo turnover
along the Middle Corridor has increased sevenfold. Naturally, we
must make maximum use of this opportunity, and we are doing so. In
this regard, the agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Georgia
are of unprecedented importance. Agreements were signed in various
areas, and all of them are related to the development of our
transit function. This concerns gas imports and gas transit, under
which very beneficial agreements were signed. Most importantly, we
obtained appropriate prices and volumes, which are extremely
important for our country’s energy security, and we are grateful to
the Azerbaijani side. These were not standard negotiations between
two governments. It was a dialogue between friends, which allowed
us to reach very sound agreements on all issues,” the Prime
Minister stressed.

Touching upon gas imports and transit issues, the head of
government noted:

“This concerns the import and transit of electricity, as well as
the Baku–Tbilisi–Supsa pipeline, whose operation had been suspended
over the past three years. The country was losing potential
revenues amounting to tens of millions of lari annually. The
operation of this pipeline will be restored, and there are
favorable conditions for this.”

“The 20-year contract with Azerbaijan on the purchase of natural
gas was nearing its expiration. However, as a result of effective
negotiations with the Azerbaijani side, the agreement was extended
for another 20 years.

As for the railway, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway will become
operational by the end of the month. At the same time, passenger
railway transportation between Georgia and Azerbaijan has been
restored. All these agreements are of fundamental importance for
strengthening our country’s economy, ensuring energy security, and
reinforcing our transit function. Once again, I would like to thank
the Azerbaijani side for its friendly attitude and the agreements
reached,” the Prime Minister said.