Georgian President in Turkey for TANAP Construction Launch Ceremony

Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili joined his Turkish and Azerbaijani counterparts in Kars in eastern Turkey on March 17 at a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP).

TANAP, which will be linked to the existing South Caucasus Pipeline running from Azerbaijan to Turkey via Georgia, envisages carrying gas from Azerbaijan’s Shah Deniz II field to Turkey’s border with Bulgaria and Greece. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2018. 

Speaking at the ceremony Margvelashvili said that Georgia remains a reliable partner in regional energy transportation projects and “despite of difficulties and occupation” of parts of the Georgian territories, Tbilisi “is doing its utmost to prevent obstacles for energy and transport corridor running through Georgia.”

“Wellbeing not only of Georgia, but of our friends – Turkey and Azerbaijan, also depends on that,” he said.

In Kars the three presidents also participated in an opening ceremony of the Heydar Aliyev Technical and Vocational High School. 

Georgian energy minister and deputy PM, Kakha Kaladze, is accompanying President Margvelashvili in Turkey.

President Margvelashvili also plans a visit to the Caucasus University in Kars, where he will meet students of the Georgian language faculty, according to his office.