Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani, who visited Bucharest on March 3-4, met on Monday with his Azerbaijani, Romanian and Turkmen counterparts, Elmar Mammadyarov, Teodor-Viorel Meleşcanu and Rashid Meredov, respectively, to discuss further strengthening and enhancing of economic ties.
On March 4, the four foreign ministers signed a joint statement on establishing international transport route between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea (BSCS) “in a quadripartite partnership.”
In the joint statement, the parties hailed “sectoral cooperation” between their countries, and called for “expanding trade and economic relations and fostering interregional connectivity.”
They also reaffirmed that “regional economic cooperation and integration offers broad opportunities for growth, and can assist with taking advantage of and developing the long-term economic potential that exists in the wider region.”
Welcome the excellent meeting today between the MFAs of #Azerbaijan, #Georgia, #Romania & #Turkmenistan which resulted in signing the #JointStatement of the Freight Transport Route between the Black and Caspian Seas ?? ???? ??@AzerbaijanMFA @MFAgovge pic.twitter.com/bry2fZM6KP
— MFA Romania (@MAERomania) March 4, 2019
The ministers believe the new route would be “a competitive route connecting Europe and Asia,” together with other similar regional projects, which are aimed to establish “effective transportation of goods from Asian states through Caspian and Black Seas to Europe and vice versa across the territories of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Turkmenistan.”
The Foreign Ministers agreed to meet at least once a year, on the ministerial level to assess the progress and plan the next steps for promotion of the BSCS international transportation route, with the next ministerial scheduled to be held in Turkmenistan. The expert level cooperation will also be established.
On March 3 and 4, Davit Zalkaliani met separately with his Turkmen and Romanian counterparts, respectively.
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