On February 20, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army met with Major General Giorgi Matiashvili, the Chief of Georgian Defense Forces, who was on an official visit to Azerbaijan, the Press Office of the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported.   

Stating that there is traditional friendship and mutual trust between the peoples of the two countries, the Chief of the General Staff emphasized that the meetings of the heads of state play an important role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia. The Chief of the General Staff pointed out that the ties in the military and other fields are in progress.

Expressing his satisfaction with the visit to Azerbaijan, Major General Matiashvili noted the importance of such meetings in expanding mutual relations and further strengthening the ties between the two countries.

The sides discussed peace and security issues in the region, further expansion of cooperation in the military, military-technical, and military-educational fields, and other matters of mutual interest. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on bilateral and trilateral cooperation prospects between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia and on increasing the intensity of joint exercises and working meetings.

In the end, the Georgian delegation visited the Combat Operation Center, met with the military personnel, and got acquainted with the created conditions.

Azerbaijan's Defense Minister met with the Chief of Georgian Defense Forces

On the same day, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov received the delegation led by Giorgi Matiashvili.

Stating that the bilateral and trilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Georgia is at a high level, the Minister emphasized its importance in ensuring security in the region. Colonel General Hasanov noted that the military personnel demonstrated high professionalism during the "Winter Exercises - 2023" conducted in Kars and said that joint exercises play an important role in exchanging experience between the two countries' armies, further improvement of combat capability. The Minister of Defense emphasized the importance of the meeting at the plenary session held within the framework of the Munich Security Conference with the participation of the leaders of the countries of the South Caucasus. 

Major General Matiashvili expressed his gratitude for the warm reception. He emphasized that the military relations between the countries are at a high level. Azerbaijani-Georgian military cooperation contribution to regional security was noted as well.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged their views on issues of mutual interest and prospects for developing cooperation between the countries in the military, military-technical, military-educational, and other spheres.