Prime Minister visits Azerbaijan
By Messenger staff
Thursday, December 27
Georgia’s PM Bidzina Ivanishvili paid a visit to the Azerbaijani leadership in Baku on December 26.
The Georgian delegation was welcomed by first deputy prime minister of Azerbaijan Yaqub Eyyubov.
Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili met with the president of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
At the meeting they discussed the enhancement of bilateral relations, prospects of further cooperation. The export of energy resources was also discussed.
A meeting with Azerbaijan’s Prime Minister Artur Rasizade also took place. The visit of the Georgian Prime Minister was initiated by Rasizade.
Azerbaijani experts consider that Georgia’s Prime Minister had to answer many awkward questions in Baku, Vesti.az reports.
Azerbaijani political scientist Rovshan Ibragimov told Vesti.az that Georgia and Azerbaijan have strategic relations and no matter what government comes to power, it will not cut off the branch it is sitting on.
The political scientist is convinced that the Baku-Tbilisi-Karsi railway project will not be endangered. “It will be an introductory meeting and the issues regarding the cooperation between the countries will be discussed,” Ibragimov said.
Political research expert Alkhan Shakhinoghlu states that it’s hard to understand Ivanishvili. “He sometimes says that he can’t see any benefit in the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project and sometimes he says he is thankful to Azerbaijan. By the contradictory statements, Bidzina Ivanishvili will damage Georgia’s Image.”
Some think the goal of the Prime Minister is to be liked by Russia and to see as much profit as possible as a businessman.
“By becoming closer to Russia, Ivanishvili forgets that the Kremlin doesn’t intend to let go of Abkhazia and South Ossetia,” some experts said.
Another political scientist, Ilgar Velizade thinks negotiations with Ivanishvili will be more difficult for Baku than it was with the previous government.
“Baku has a strong position and resources of influence. It is not only natural gas and its price, but investment in Georgian economics. Tension in relations will not benefit any country, though Tbilisi may lose more. I think the new government perceives this well, otherwise this visit would not have taken place,” Velizade said.
The delegation of seven Georgian officials consists of ministers of foreign affairs, energy, economics, Maia Panjikidze, Kakha Kaladze and Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the state minister for Diaspora issues Kote Surguladze. The Georgian Prime Minister held a summarizing briefing for the media after his official meetings in Baku.
