Expert Opinion cdr

Graph 1.7
Source: National Statistical Offices, World Bank
Regional Cooperation Perspectives
During the last three years, despite severe political and economic 
difficulties, the strategic importance of the South Caucasus and new 
prospects for cooperation between the states of the region have emerged. 
Ensuring peace is the primary task for achieving overall economic and 
social prosperity, and Georgia has played an important and consistent 
role of mediator. For example, after the 45-day Karabakh War of 2020, 15 
captured Armenian soldiers were returned to their homeland thanks to 
Georgia’s mediation, in exchange for which Armenia handed Azerbaijan 
maps of areas mined in Karabakh. 
In Ukraine, following the Russian aggression, new supply chains and trade 
routes are being established, and discussions on future projects and transit 
opportunities are actively being pursued.
Since the 2020 Karabakh War, negotiations about the opening of the so-
called Zangezuri Corridor, which connects Azerbaijan with Turkey through 
Armenia and the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan, have intensified. 
The Zangezuri Corridor will allow Official Ankara to have a more political 
and economic influence on Turkic-speaking Central Asian states. However, 
this issue remains a red line for Armenia, despite the pressure, and a final 
agreement on the Zangezuri Corridor issue has yet to be reached. There 
is no doubt that the implementation of the project is of great importance 

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in terms of the development of regional transport and trade connections. 
Even if there is political agreement, however, the technical implementation 
of such projects takes time, and includes working on regulations and 
legislation, as well as the arrangement or modernization of the relevant 
infrastructure. It is interesting to look at the impact it can have on Georgia. 
First of all, Georgia is involved in successful regional energy projects, 
whose infrastructure exists and works properly. It is also noteworthy 
that the demand for pipelines passing through the country is increasing, 
considering the current reality. Additionally, Georgia is considered a