Georgian PM, Turkish president discuss deeper cooperation

TBILISI. May 16 (Interfax) - Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is paying an official visit to Turkey, met with the country's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, the Georgian government's press service said in a statement.

The two sides stressed the importance of their countries' strategic partnership and expressed their willingness to deepen cooperation in various areas, it said.

"Special emphasis was made on the development of regional, trade, economic, and energy transportation and transit cooperation," the statement said.

The two sides discussed the potential of further developing bilateral trade, noting Turkey's being Georgia's number one trading partner. Other topics included education, defense and security.

"The sides also discussed the developments in the Middle East. It was noted that Georgia supports the idea of the need to establish peace in the Middle East, which can be achieved through negotiation with international support. [The sides] stressed a particular importance of regional peace and stability," the statement said.

Georgia supports the formula of peaceful co-existence in Southern Caucasus and is ready to assist with peace and constructive cooperation in the region, Kobakhidze said.

"The Turkish president reiterated his support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and its Euro-Atlantic integration process," the statement said.

Turkey believes that "these events will be resolved in the best interests of the Georgian people," Erdogan said, referring to the passage of the Georgian bill "On transparency of foreign influence."

Last year trade between the two countries "reached $3 billion, and we told each other that the new target will be $5 billion," Erdogan said. "I think we have a potential to get near this mark very soon and fully realize our business potential," he was quoted by the press service as saying.

The regional cooperation context is crucial to Turkish-Georgian relationship and "we will continue our efforts to implement the project to build the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad which is the basis of the Middle Corridor and the revival of the historical Silk Road," he said.

Ankara is ready to take part in big Georgian projects to build an airport, seaports, power transmission lines, and energy-related projects, the president said.

The sides are ready to cooperate on security and combating organized crime and terrorist organizations.