Istanbul Declaration: A New Era of Trilateral Cooperation
Istanbul, June 8 – The Foreign Ministers of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Georgia signed the Istanbul Declaration following the 10th Türkiye-Azerbaijan-Georgia Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Istanbul. The declaration underscores a commitment to advancing cooperation across political, economic, commercial, peace and security, scientific, technological, and cultural domains.
The declaration, signed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Ceyhun Bayramov, and Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili, highlighted the excellent relations between the countries, built on deep friendship, good neighborliness, mutual respect, and trust. It also acknowledged the significant contributions made by the three nations towards establishing sustainable peace and stability, emphasizing its importance for development and prosperity both within and beyond the region.
Addressing Regional and Global Challenges
The ministers expressed awareness of the growing threats faced by their countries, including but not limited to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, transnational organized crime, cyberattacks, and hybrid warfare. To foster a robust economic profile in the region, the declaration stressed the importance of further developing trade and investment relations among the three countries.
Regional connectivity was identified as a vital element for regional cooperation, economic growth, and development. The ministers reiterated their strong and unequivocal support for each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of their borders. The declaration also emphasized the importance of trilateral cooperation in overcoming regional and global challenges, noting the positive role played by all three countries in achieving regional peace, security, and stability to fully realize the region’s cooperation potential.
Specifically, the declaration underscored the paramount importance of restoring Georgia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty within its internationally recognized borders.
Enhancing Connectivity and Energy Security
The declaration called for increased cooperation in transportation and energy sectors, including green energy and low-carbon technologies. It recognized the strategic contribution of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor to regional and European energy security. Furthermore, it highlighted the significance of developing people-to-people contacts, education, social and cultural exchanges, tourism, and information and communication technologies, including through the enhancement of air, rail, and road connections, and the strengthening of regional connectivity.
The declaration pointed to significant steps taken to strengthen the transit potential of the countries, including the Trans-Caspian East-West Middle Corridor, which passes through all three nations, and efforts to integrate into the international transit system. The key role of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway within the Middle Corridor was emphasized, and the successful completion of modernization works for the railway project, celebrated with an event at the Akhalkalaki International Train Station in Georgia on June 2, was welcomed.
The ministers affirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in strengthening regional connectivity through the mechanism of the Foreign Ministers and Ministers Responsible for Transport of Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Georgia. They also supported the continuation and further expansion of partnerships in the energy sector, including connections for green energy transmission and trade.
The declaration also highlighted the importance of increasing regional cooperation in environmental protection and combating climate change, supporting cooperation in sustainable growth areas, including the efficient use of renewable energy.
Boosting Trade and Combating Transnational Crime
Türkiye’s COP31 presidency was welcomed, and Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum was commended for its contribution to advancing sustainable development. The declaration reiterated the commitment to strengthening cooperation in accordance with relevant international and regional documents to combat all forms and manifestations of transnational organized crime, including terrorism, crimes against cultural and historical heritage, cybercrimes, as well as arms and drug trafficking, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, and money laundering.
The declaration conveyed a message of ensuring sustainable and enhanced cooperation in economic sectors of common interest through effective and results-oriented projects. It also stressed the importance of promoting investments in areas of mutual interest and exploring new methods to develop export-import opportunities and economic cooperation. The readiness of the three states’ business communities, chambers of commerce and industry, and industrial and business associations to maintain direct contacts was also noted.
The successful holding of the 7th Türkiye-Azerbaijan-Georgia Business Forum in Georgia on February 26 was welcomed, and the success of the established trilateral mechanisms, including inter-parliamentary cooperation, was acknowledged. The ministers appreciated the active cooperation demonstrated by the states, including the mutual support for their candidacies in international organizations whenever possible. Deep gratitude was expressed to Turkish Minister Fidan for the successful organization of the meeting.
The ministers underscored the importance of regularly holding trilateral meetings and decided to host the 11th Trilateral Meeting in Georgia in 2027, on mutually agreed dates.
Source: https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/istanbul-bildirisinde-is-birligi-mesaji-one-cikiyor-947569.html
