Georgian Patriarch thanks Azerbaijan

Patriarch-Catholicos of Georgia Ilya II and Director-General of SOCAR Energy Georgia Mahir Mammadov held a meeting, Report's local bureau informs.

The sides discussed issues of cooperation at the meeting. Ilya II thanked SOCAR Energy Georgia for its support to the patriarchate for five years.

The Georgian Patriarchate archpriest Giorgi Zviadadze said that the meeting focused on bilateral relations between the two countries and peoples. He noted that these relations were based on mutual respect: "Five years ago, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) launched a project with President Ilham Aliyev's support to pay for natural gas consumed by churches in Georgia. The program covers about 650 churches and monasteries in 35 dioceses."

During the meeting, Mammadov thanked the Georgian Patriarch for strengthening friendly and close relations between the Azerbaijani and Georgian peoples and states.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed between the Georgian Patriarchate and SOCAR Energy Georgia in November 2014.