This is my 1st foreign visit as President of Georgia, which emphasizes the strategic and exceptionally good-neighbourly relationship between Georgia and Azerbaijan. Such a statement Mikheil Kavelashvili made at the joint press conference with Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev.

"I am pleased to have already had the opportunity to meet with President Aliyev – we shared our thoughts and views on the multidimensional exemplary relationship between Georgia and Azerbaijan, the challenges facing the South Caucasus, ongoing global processes. Our people have developed an exceptional friendship over centuries, which creates a solid foundation for further strengthening cooperation in the future. Preserving national identity and respect for traditions, culture, and history are the core principles that our people particularly cherish. Our friendship is based on mutual respect, consideration of each other`s national interests. We understand well how important trust is in relationships, and we value our word.

Today`s globalist era, full of challenges and threats, endangers these fundamental values. Therefore, we need special attention and effort to protect these principles. Georgian and Azerbaijani people stand together and will continue to stand in the fight to protect values vital to our nations. I am deeply convinced that our time-tested high-level strategic and good-neighbourly relations will strengthen further and acquire a new dimension to advance Georgia’s and Azerbaijan`s national interests. Close cooperation between our countries in all directions is crucial to addressing the challenges in the region and the world.

We are implementing numerous joint, mutually beneficial projects that make our region even more attractive to the entire world. To make the South Caucasus even more competitive, reliable, and promising, ensuring long-term peace and stability is important. Georgia and Azerbaijan firmly support each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, for which I would like to thank Mr. President once again. Georgia has always been a strong supporter of Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity and sovereignty", - said the President.

As he added, Georgia welcomes the recent completion of the negotiation process on all points of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

"This is undoubtedly a step forward in showcasing and utilizing the region`s potential and opportunities. We hope that soon, a historic agreement will be signed, which will be a crucial impulse for ensuring long-term and sustainable peace in the region.

I want to emphasize once again Georgia`s declared peace policy and readiness to contribute to ensuring peace in the region. I want to assure you that Georgia has always been an advocate for dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful coexistence in the South Caucasus, and this course will be maintained in the future.

The special, long-standing friendship between our countries and our common sensible policy has allowed us to correctly define the role of our region. I am confident that our common future includes a successful, economically strong, and prosperous South Caucasus region where our people will be able to live happily together with their own customs and not with imposed pseudo-liberal values.

Unfortunately, in recent times, our countries have repeatedly been subject to double standards and interference in internal affairs by external forces. Despite numerous attempts, we firmly resist these threats and ensure the security and stability of the region. No third country or organization can know better than us what is best for our people", - noted Mikheil Kavelashvili.

He expressed hope that cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan will develop at an even faster pace.

"I am glad that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia to protect common interests has become intensive, for which I thank you once again, Mr. President. With the right and consistent policy, we must fully utilize the potential of the region and fulfil the function of a strong, reliable connecting bridge on the world`s geopolitical map. I am confident that our relations will develop at an even faster pace for the well-being of our countries and nations, taking into account each other`s interests. Dear colleague, I once again express my gratitude for your warm hospitality. I am confident that soon, I will have the opportunity to host you in Georgia", - said Mikheil Kavelashvili.