There are few examples in world history of a state genuinely doing its best to make its nearest neighbour prosperous, politically stable and united. But the relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are such a unique case. No one is more interested in Georgia's stability than Azerbaijan.

The key infrastructure projects, first and foremost the transport of energy carriers to European markets, as well as transit projects that Azerbaijan is implementing together with Turkey and Georgia, are simply inconceivable without mutually beneficial cooperation between the three countries and without stability in our country. Azerbaijan unconditionally recognises Georgia's territorial integrity and supports the de-occupation of Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region and the return of Georgian refugees.

By comparison, Armenia and the Armenian lobby have a completely different attitude towards Georgia. Starting with the fact that it was the Armenian lobby that fomented separatism on Georgian territory. Armenian militants fought against Georgia in Abkhazia, separatists in so-called Artsakh recognised the so-called "independence" of the separatist regimes of Sukhumi and Tskhinvali much earlier than Russia, and Armenia has consistently voted against the return of Georgian refugees to Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region in the UN General Assembly. Not to mention that Armenian "strategists" regularly "divide" Georgia in their plans. They are everywhere declaring their claims to Samtskhe-Javakheti as an allegedly Armenian "Javakhk".

Not everyone, even countries friendly to Georgia, understands the risks we face and the importance of stability in Georgia. Ukraine is certainly a country that is friendly to Georgia. In turn, Georgia supports Ukraine, which has been subjected to aggression, and is in favour of the full de-occupation of Ukrainian territories. But it is only in Ukraine that some politicians, like Georgia, would open a "second front", i.e. to enter the war, but on the scale of Georgia and with the presence of already occupied territories, which is a reckless adventure that could lead to the complete devastation of Georgia and the occupation of its new territories. We are talking about France, which patronises Armenia and Armenian nationalists.

France has already "helped" Georgia once, in August 2008. At that time, President Nicolas Sarkozy brought to Tbilisi, in essence, an agreement on Georgia's capitulation and the surrender of its territories. Then Georgia lost Abkhazia and Samara, largely because of French 'peacekeeping'.

Today, Paris is once again deliberately provoking further aggravation in the post-Soviet space. As far as Ukraine is concerned, the current French president, Emmanuel Macron, has announced the possibility of sending troops to the country to confront Russia, while at the same time proposing a ceasefire for the duration of the Paris Olympics this summer.

But perhaps these messages are dictated not only to the Kremlin but also to Yerevan, which today receives weapons from Paris. It is no coincidence that Macron's statements were greeted with great joy by Armenian nationalists. It means that France can send its troops to the territories of the former USSR, both in Ukraine and in the South Caucasus. Paris can draw the world's attention to a military provocation by "blowing up" the Paris Olympics with a new war, with its own consent. In order to achieve their revanchist plans in case of a new war, the Armenian nationalists will first try to destroy the joint projects of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey. So Georgia is definitely under attack here.

Azerbaijan is interested in a peaceful Georgia that fully meets the aspirations of the Georgian people and the goals of the Georgian government. Therefore, the first official visit of the new Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, to Azerbaijan on 17 March was significant.

During the visit, Irakli Kobakhidze stressed that relations between Tbilisi and Baku are dynamic in political, economic and cultural terms. He thanked Aliyev for supporting Georgia's territorial integrity and noted that Georgia has always been a firm supporter of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity. At the meeting, Kobakhidze said the sides discussed bilateral relations as well as regional and global processes. He also expressed the country's readiness to continue contributing to peace in the region.

"We have excellent high-level trade and economic relations. Azerbaijan is among Georgia's top five trading partners in terms of volume, and in this regard, of course, it is very important to further develop the partnership. In the areas of transport and energy, there are great prospects for developing cooperation, as President Ilham Aliyev also said," Irakli Kobakhidze said at a joint briefing with the Azerbaijani president in Baku. The Georgian Prime Minister also stressed the importance of high-level meetings and visits and invited Ilham Aliyev to visit Georgia, expressing hope that the Azerbaijani leader would be able to make the visit soon.

Speaking to the press after the meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev stressed that Georgia and Azerbaijan have always stood side by side as two independent states. According to him, today Azerbaijan and Georgia, through joint efforts, not only ensure the economic development of their countries, but at the same time have become important countries for the region and, in a broader sense, for Eurasia.

"In general, the number of countries receiving Azerbaijani gas has reached 8, and this is not the limit. The number of these countries will increase in the near future. The demand for Azerbaijan's energy resources is growing and will grow every year.

I believe that such successful projects as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum, Southern Gas Project and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will become an example for the Green Energy Project (supply of electricity from Azerbaijan to Europe via Georgia on the Black Sea Day) and it will be implemented with the same success. There is also a great need for this. Both Georgia and Azerbaijan have a very large renewable energy potential.

Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia is also growing, already approaching $900 million and increasing by about 15% last year. The Georgian government's well thought-out reform policy has created an excellent investment climate in the country. Azerbaijani investors have invested $3.4 billion in the Georgian economy. The main reason for this, of course, is the existence of an excellent investment climate," the Azerbaijani President noted.

President Ilham Aliyev stressed that Azerbaijan and Georgia have always supported each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders. They supported each other in voting in relevant international organisations. This support will continue in the future.

Alexandre Zakariadze