PM Kobakhidze highlights Aliyev-Ivanishvili meeting while announcing Baku-Tbilisi-Kars agreements

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has highlighted the importance of a recent meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili while announcing agreements related to the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and regional connectivity projects.

Speaking at a briefing at the Government Administration on Tuesday, Kobakhidze said Georgia and Azerbaijan had resolved all remaining issues concerning the railway project and confirmed that the route would begin operating fully by the end of the month.

The PM said the agreements reached with the Azerbaijani side were the result of months of negotiations and stressed that Aliyev’s recent visit to Georgia, including his meeting with Ivanishvili, had played an important role in advancing bilateral cooperation.

“It was very important that President Aliyev visited Georgia and held a meeting with Bidzina Ivanishvili,” Kobakhidze said.

He also praised the work of the Georgian Economy Ministry team and Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, saying the negotiations had produced an “ideal result” for Georgia.

According to Kobakhidze, passenger rail services between Georgia and Azerbaijan will resume on 26 May after a six-year suspension, while a joint Georgian-Azerbaijani enterprise will be established to manage railway operations.

The prime minister described the agreements as strategically important for regional connectivity, tourism and bilateral relations between the two countries.