Azerbaijani and Georgian Presidents, Ilham Aliyev and Giorgi Margvelashvili, respectively, reiterated “strategic” and “friendly” ties between the two countries after a meeting in Baku on February 12.

President Aliyev said that Azerbaijan and Georgia “always support each other” in various international organizations and forums.

“We always support each other on the issues related to the territorial integrity of our countries. Territorial integrity of Georgia and Azerbaijan has been violated and international law norms are brutally violated,” he said.

President Margvelashvili said that the both countries have “serious problems” with territorial integrity. “I believe that we are taking the most proper way of peaceful solution of those problems; we are taking a proper direction of solution of those problems through building prosperity in our nations and through building very important joint projects,” the Georgian President said referring to joint projects in the fields of energy and transportation.

He said that there is an “exceptional partnership” between Georgia and Azerbaijan and “dedication” to major regional energy and transportation projects, involving oil and gas pipelines and ongoing construction of a railway which will connect Azerbaijan with Turkey via Georgia. Margvelashvili said that Georgia and Azerbaijan “have shown an example of how two nations can partner for strategic prosperity and future of their countries.”

President Aliyev said that apart of political and economic ties, people-to-people contacts were also discussed during the meeting.

“I am very glad that the President of Georgia will visit tomorrow regions of Azerbaijan and will also meet the Georgian community of Azerbaijan. Several years ago I met Azerbaijanis in Marneuli [in Georgia’s Kvemo Kartli region]. These meetings are also very important for future development of our ties. Georgians in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijanis in Georgia are our big asset and of course their life and their activities are important for our bilateral ties,” Aliyev said, adding that Georgians and Azerbaijanis “always lived in peace and friendship.”

Margvelashvili plans to visit town of Qabala in North of Azerbaijan, as well as Qakh in northwest of the country, where he will met local ethnic Georgian community on February 13.

Also on February 12, the Georgian President met Azerbaijani PM Artur Rasizade and speaker of parliament Oktay Sabir Asadov.