I would like to welcome everyone, first of all our friends, the presidents of Turkey and Azerbaijan and representatives of British Petroleum.
This is the day that, a few years ago, many people thought would never come. Therefore, we are delighted that everything is going just right, according to the logic and dialectics of history. Our historical development is going well, exactly as we anticipated. Our countries are developing, our economies are developing, and the importance of our countries is increasing. All this is based on a combination of our political will, correct economic calculations and hard work.
We are delighted that everything is going well in Azerbaijan. We are delighted that Azerbaijan is developing as Georgia would wish it to. Azerbaijan is becoming a rich country, Azerbaijan is developing a social infrastructure and economy that are helping people to live better. I am glad that Azerbaijan has a leader who is not only a great hope for his people - the results of his modernization efforts are obvious - but he is also a very easy man to get on with. He is very close to us. I am talking about my personal friend, President Ilham Aliyev. I am talking about the policies he is carrying out in order to make Azerbaijan a truly successful country. For us Georgians, this is absolutely crucial because we will have an economically successful and strong neighbour, a strategic ally for dealing with all political and economic issues. We, as a brotherly country, are ready to stand by Azerbaijan in any situation.
Turkey is not only a great state, it is a country with a truly great heart. During the most difficult times for Georgia, Turkey always stood by our side, absolutely selflessly. During the first years of our independence, when no-one took Georgia seriously, Turkey helped us. Last year, when we had a crisis in Ajaria and Georgia was on the brink of a civil war, Turkey's very wise and balanced position helped to resolve the crisis calmly and painlessly to the benefit of all sides.
Today Turkey is our great partner. Turkish companies are entering the Georgian market. Tbilisi and Batumi airports are being built by Turkish investors. Turkish companies are working in construction, trade, energy and other sectors of our economy. We only welcome this and we think that our integration should be deeper. We are a single region, a single economy, we are a single, interconnected complex.
We have had a very good experience of cooperating with British Petroleum. I would like to note that, of course, there were many issues which, had we been in power at that time, would have been resolved differently to the benefit of both sides.
Since last year, when we started working with British Petroleum, we have managed to resolve many issues. This [pumping] station is not the only example of our cooperation. The Borjomi park [funded by BP] is a symbol of revival and regeneration. We have also carried out many social projects together. I have just discussed the building a water supply system in the town of Akhaltsikhe together. There are many other small projects like this that are very important for specific towns and villages. We are carrying out these projects together. Georgia is ready to fulfil all its contractual obligations and Georgia is ready to uphold the law in a very strict manner.
I would like to welcome all the representatives here from friendly governments, from Britain and other European countries.
What does this pipeline mean for Georgia? Economically, it means the creation of more infrastructure, more investment, but the importance of this oil pipeline is primarily political. Georgia's importance is growing on the world map and in the region.
Next year we will have a gas pipeline. The meaning of the gas pipeline is even more important, because the gas pipeline also means real economic and energy independence for Georgia.
Therefore, this is a historic day for us. The results will not appear today or tomorrow. We need patience. However, the most important thing that is changing is that this region is no longer a backwater. This region is important and our country has alternatives. Our country has a choice. Where there is competition and freedom of movement, there is a greater foundation for independence and for the values of democracy and freedom.
There is more to this than oil and gas and I think we have seen that.
And one more thing. I was surprised that the last time we met in Baku, there were both positive and negative reactions. No-one can lose anything from this situation - the stronger our countries can stand on their own feet, the easier they will be to get on with, the better partners they will be. There is no conflict here. There is a certain amount of commercial competition, of course, but every side is going to be a winner in this situation. That is a very important lesson. This action is not directed against anyone if we look at it realistically, pragmatically and with common interests in mind.
Thank you to all the workers, all the companies that worked here. Welcome to the part of Georgian territory where there is already oil under our feet and for that the importance of this land will grow.
Thank you.
This translation is published with permission from BBC Monitoring, Reading UK
Communications Office
of the President of Georgia