On October 24, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev arrived in Georgia for a working visit, the Press Offices of the Azerbaijani President and Georgian government reported.

On the same day, Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili held a one-on-one meeting at Château Mukhrani, Mtskheta Municipality.

“Heritage of Karabakh Khanate” exhibition

Ilham Aliyev and Irakli Garibashvili viewed the “Heritage of Karabakh Khanate” exhibition at Château Mukhrani, Mtskheta Municipality. The event featured a presentation of the “Karabakh Khanate. Historical and cultural identity" book.

Photos displayed at the exhibition were selected from the book “Karabakh Khanate. Historical and cultural identity” based on artifacts. These include the first known image of the flag belonging to the Karabakh Khanate, the shield of Shah Ismayil preserved in the Karabakh Khanate dynasty, ancient carpets, decorative tiles of the Sardar Mosque and its façade, as well as images of the 19th century Shusha, photos depicting the interior and façade of the Sardar Khan palace of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a horse saddle from the 19th century, two tars and a three-stringed kamancha, portraits of Hasan Gulu Khan Qajar and Fatali Shah Qajar authored by Mirza Gadim Iravani.

The book “Karabakh Khanate. Historical and cultural identity” by the head of the group of authors, Professor Eldar Nadiradze, contains more than 300 artifacts belonging to the Karabakh khanate. These were collected during the military and scientific expeditions by Tsarist Russia in Karabakh in the 19th century and are currently stored in the Georgian National Museum. After being handed over to the museum's archive, the artifacts were never opened for some reason and remained uncatalogued for more than 100 years.

Press Conference

On October 24, Ilham Aliyev and Irakli Garibashvili made statements to the press.

Irakli Garibashvili said: "Today we discussed various issues and once again emphasized the close partnership between our countries. We discussed the processes currently taking place in the world and agreed that the events taking place in Ukraine today should be resolved through negotiations."

"In addition, we reviewed the regional situation, contacts between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the peace process between the two countries. Personally, our government and I hope that we will do our best to implement the policy of peace. Good neighborly relations in our region are not against any form of cooperation; we will only strengthen it. I am sure we can do a lot together," he added.

Georgian Prime Minister stated: "We considered economy, energy, and transport issues. Georgia is an important country for Azerbaijan, and at the same time, Azerbaijan is also a strategic partner of Georgia. We reviewed the important projects we have already implemented. These are historical projects - Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipelines, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and Middle Corridor. The projects we have implemented will be carried forward, and we are determined to speed them up even more."

"I want to quote your father, the National Leader of your country. We have deep respect for his memory. When he was in Tbilisi, Georgia, he said that the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples were happy that they were neighboring nations. Our ancestors created those contacts, and it is our duty today to carry that collaboration forward and pass it on to future generations," he concluded.

Ilham Aliyev stated: "Today, our strategic partnership relations have almost risen to the level of the alliance. Because we actively cooperate in many areas. We constantly support each other within the framework of international organizations, at the same time, in a bilateral format. Many important projects are of special importance not only for our countries but also for the region and Europe as a whole. As Mr. Prime Minister mentioned, many issues were discussed today. Discussions will continue. Of course, the processes taking place in the region and issues related to security were at the center of the discussions. I informed the Prime Minister about the situation after the second Karabakh war and the progress of peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We believe that after the end of the Karabakh conflict, the time has come for Azerbaijan and Armenia to sign a peace treaty. Anyway, that's our intention. We presented our proposals consisting of five main principles to the Armenian side. I hope that the Armenian side will also show political will and sign the peace treaty with Azerbaijan based on these fundamental principles recognized by the international community. If this happens, peace will come to the South Caucasus, and, at the same time, opportunities for cooperation will emerge. Today, at the same time, during the conversation, we exchanged views on the start of Georgia-Azerbaijan-Armenia consultations. If the Armenian side is ready for it, we are ready."

"As for our bilateral agenda, of course, we are pleased with the increase in our trade turnover. In nine months of this year, mutual trade turnover has approached one billion dollars. Of course, projects implemented with the investment of Azerbaijan further strengthen our cooperation. Azerbaijan has invested more than 3 billion dollars in Georgia. This investment is mutually beneficial because it meets the interests of both parties. Of course, today, we broadly exchanged views on our future energy policy. The Prime Minister also noted that the implemented projects are already successfully operating. We are thinking about new projects. We intend to increase gas exports to world markets. This year we will export 22 billion cubic meters, and it will increase even more next year. The Memorandum on strategic partnership in the energy field, signed between the European Commission and Azerbaijan in July of this year, indicates that Azerbaijan will double gas exports to Europe in the next five years. That is, our intention consists of this, and our capabilities reach this. Thus, we plan that in 2027 Azerbaijan's gas export to Europe alone will reach 20 billion cubic meters. Of course, the work to be done in this regard was discussed in a bilateral format, and there is a need for further discussions. At the same time, exports will be increased through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline next year. We also want to use the Baku-Supsa oil pipeline, which is currently not in operation. We have also talked about this. I informed Mr. Prime Minister about our plans. There is a great need and great potential for this," he added.

"I should also say that the volume of cargo transportation between Georgia and Azerbaijan has increased by 75 percent this year. I want to inform you that we intend to increase the carrying capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to five million tons. For this purpose, additional investment will be made by Azerbaijan in this project this year and next year. All investments are ready, and we have started this process. There is a great need for transport routes across the Caspian Sea through Azerbaijan, Georgia, and neighboring countries. The new transport routes meet the interests of all the countries along the route, both about the geopolitical situation and as a whole. Therefore, increasing the throughput capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway to five million tons and, at the same time, increasing the volume of cargo transferred from Central Asia and Asia as a whole to the West and vice versa, using Georgian ports, creates a new reality. We must be ready for it. I must state that we want to increase the capacity of the Baku International Sea Trade Port from 15 million tons to 25 million tons. All the instructions have already been given, and the funds will be allocated. Therefore, there should be close coordination between Georgia and Azerbaijan in the transport field because our joint projects must be completed simultaneously. To be a transit country, you must have good relations with your neighbors. Because without these relations with neighbors, no country can become a reliable transit country. Our friendly, brotherly partnership relations with Georgia create these opportunities. Currently, as there is a great demand for energy resources in the whole world and Europe, Georgia and Azerbaijan will act from one front in this matter and ensure their national interests by focusing on one point. Look, see how important the relations between the two brotherly countries are for the region, Europe, and the world," Aliyev concluded.

On the same day, President Salome Zourabichvili stated she were not informed about Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Georgia.

“Despite the Georgian President’s willingness and availability, the meeting between the presidents, which is typically held during all heads of state visits, was impossible to take place. The Georgian President expresses her openness and wishes to receive the President of Azerbaijan on an official visit shortly,” the statement of Zourabichvili’s administration reads.