Azerbaijani, Turkish, Georgian FMs Discuss Transport, Energy Cooperation – Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry
The foreign ministers of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have issued a joint declaration underscoring the importance of strengthening transport and energy cooperation, including on green energy and low-carbon technologies, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said after their meeting in Istanbul on Monday.
“[The ministers] highlighted the importance of their strong trilateral cooperation to overcome regional and global challenges, underlined the importance of regional peace, security and stability for the full realization of the region’s potential for cooperation, and acknowledged the positive role of all three countries to this end,” the declaration said.
The ministers also stressed the importance of strengthening the cooperation on transport and energy, including green energy and low-carbon technologies, and using opportunities to improve and strengthen air, rail and road links and regional connectivity, it said.
The ministers noted the important steps made towards strengthening their countries’ transit potentials including the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (The Middle Corridor), which crosses Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and efforts to integrate into the international transit system, it said. They also stressed the key role of the Middle Corridor’s Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation on regional connectivity, the declaration said.
“[The ministers] underlined strategic partnership in the field of energy and reaffirmed their full support for its continuation and further expansion, including through interconnections for green energy transmission and trade; supported the cooperation in the field of sustainable growth, including the efficient use of renewable energy; [and] highlighted the importance of enhancing and strengthening regional cooperation on protecting the environment and combatting climate change,” the declaration said.
The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation as part of international and regional tools to combat all forms and manifestations of terrorism, transnational organized crime including illegal trafficking of firearms, illicit drugs and their precursors, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering, crimes against cultural and historical heritage, and cybercrime.
“[The ministers] expressed their readiness to further encourage investments in the areas of mutual interest, as well as to maintain direct contacts in this direction through business circles, chambers of commerce and industry, as well as the industry and business associations of the three States, including by exploring export-import opportunities and new modalities for promoting economic cooperation,” the declaration said.
