AZERBAIJAN-TURKEY-GEORGIA TRILATERAL COOPERATION AS A FACTOR OF REGIONAL STABILITY (VIEW FROM AZERBAIJAN)

Abstract

One of the main conditions for political stability and economic development in the Caucasus is to ensure regional stability. In addition to the South Caucasus, the trio covers the strategic region connecting the Caspian-Black-Mediterranean basins. The formation of the Azerbaijan- Turkey-Georgia triangle is based on historical and cultural ties, geographical proximity, being part of a single transit corridor, favorable conditions for joint economic cooperation and political will. After the collapse of the USSR, the establishment of Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey trilateral cooperation began over economic interests. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines and the Southern Gas Corridor are the main pillars of this trilateral cooperation. The
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is one of the factors contributing to regional stability and development, playing the role of a strategic link in the creation of a transport corridor between Asia and Europe. Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey business forums organized in trilateral format, action plans on sectoral cooperation are another indicator of regional strategic partnership between the countries, as well as a provider of development in tourism, energy, agriculture, environmental protection, humanitarian and sports.The Trabzon Declaration, the Batumi Joint Communiqué, the Ganja, Kars, Tbilisi and Baku
Declarations are of great importance in terms of political dialogue and the implementation of special trilateral projects. The importance of the agreement reached during the Trabzon summit of the heads of state of the three countries in the context of resolving the existing regional conflicts in the region and resolutely combating terrorism and organized crime should be emphasized. There is also successful cooperation in the field of defense. Given all this, Azerbaijan-Turkey-Georgia trilateral cooperation should be assessed as a factor of regional stability and the largest guarantor of lasting peace and progress in the South Caucasus.