Official Visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to Georgia (March 8-10, 1996)

The relations with Georgia occupy a special place in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. Multifaceted points of the contacts in the Azerbaijan - Georgian relations create conditions for the republics to become ally powers. Deep economical and political interests link the two countries. Also, the existence of more than half million Azerbaijanis in this country requires special attention to the neighbor country.

On the 8th of March a meeting was held between the delegations of the President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev and his colleague Edward Shevardnadze. Ceremony of the signature of documents was held after the meeting. «Treaty on Strengthening Mutual Security, Friendship, and Cooperation,» and «Peace, Security, and Cooperation in the Caucuses» were signed between Georgia and Azerbaijan.

Later the presidents of Azerbaijan and Georgia made speech in the press conference.

On that day an official reception was held on behalf of the President of Georgia in honor of the Azerbaijani President. President Heydar Aliyev made a speech in the reception: «It is a historical event that very significant documents were signed between the independent Azerbaijan and Georgia, heads of the two countries, republics, nations, and that the independent states have met and reached necessary decision for the further development of future cooperation.»

On 8th of March President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev made a speech in the special meeting of the Parliament of Georgia. Heydar Aliyev spoke about the history of the Azerbaijani and Georgian relations, difficulties they faced in the period of independence, his fight against separatism, and perspectives of the relations.

On 9th of March a ceremony of rewarding of the diploma of the honorary doctor of Tbilisi State University to Heydar Aliyev was held. The Azerbaijani President expressed his satisfaction with the visit and said: «We have been celebrating this great holiday for two days. We take very valuable and courageous steps to strengthen and develop friendship, brotherhood, and cooperation between our peoples and countries. I suppose that the works we have done in these days and the important documents we have signed will serve the future of our peoples and states.»

Later Heydar Aliyev attended anopening ceremony of the statue of Fatali Khan Khoyski in the Botanical Garden, visited the graves of Mirza Fatali Akhundov and Mirze Shafi Vazeh.

On that day President Heydar Aliyev met the devout Azerbaijanis in Tbilisi Juma Mosque and delegations of the Azerbaijanis in the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Z.Paliashvili.

On 10th of March, President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev gave an interview to the Georgian television. President Heydar Aliyev stressed the importance of the documents signed during the visit and added that they created legislative base for an active cooperation in the future.