Georgian Prime Minister on the problem of a disputed monastery on the border with Azerbaijan

Baku/06.05.19/Turan: Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze believes that the process of delimitation and demarcation of the still uncoordinated sections of the Georgian-Azerbaijani border will be difficult and take a lot of time.

This topic was actualized after Azerbaijani border guards blocked the way to Udabno monastery, located on the territory of Azerbaijan, for several days.

The monastery is part of the ancient cave complex David-Gareji (Keshikchidag), located along the border of the two countries. This medieval complex of cave monasteries is located 60 kilometers southeast of Tbilisi and covers an area of ​​25 km. along the mountainside.

The complex is a room carved into the rocks. The part of the complex controlled by Azerbaijan, including the monastery of Udabno, is located on the southwestern slope of the mountain range.

After negotiations at the Foreign Ministry level, the Azerbaijani side opened the way.

"We will create a commission, which will include representatives of all departments and begin the process of delimitation and demarcation. This process is quite complicated, protracted. Until concrete decisions are made, the usual practice of movement will continue," Bakhtadze said in an interview with Imedi TV.

"I understand perfectly well that for every Georgian, including for me, this is a very emotional question, but once again I want to ask everyone to refrain from distributing unverified information.

Azerbaijan and we are friendly countries, strategic partners. I am sure that the issue will be resolved in accordance with the spirit of our relations," the premier stressed.

Total border between Georgia and Azerbaijan is 446 km., 30% of which has not yet been agreed upon, although the bilateral commission has been solving these issues since 1996.

The Georgian people made a rally in the area of ​​the monastery, creating a living chain and passing into the territory of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijani border guards do not hinder them.

The situation worsened on April 25, when the Georgian side stated that the Azerbaijani border guards blocked the road to the monastery complex. Georgian religious servants of the monastery reported that Azerbaijani border guards began to prohibit visiting the monastery of Udabno. -02D-