Talking to Azeri journalists, Patriarch of All Georgia Iliya II said: “I think that the conflicts in the territory of Azerbaijan and Georgia are similar. We must jointly resolve the problems peacefully,” he said.

He underlined the need for resolving the conflicts as soon as possible. Otherwise, they may develop into large-scale conflicts.

Tbilisi and Baku have recently had a dispute over the David Gareji monastery. Azerbaijan rejected Georgia-proposed territorial swap, namely, the David Gareji complex in exchange for other borderline areas. Georgia proposed re-drawing the border southward of Mount Udabno. 

The location of the monastery is of strategic importance for Azerbaijan, as it overlooks Armenia’s borderland regions. Azeris claim the David Gareji complex to be of Albanian origin.

As NEWS.am reported previously, the ancient Georgian cultural and religious monastery is contentious and the Georgian-Azerbaijani border needs to be clarified. The monastery is divided between the two countries. Georgia proposed Azerbaijan to exchange other territory for the remainder of David Gareja because of its historical and cultural significance to Georgians. Baku disapproves of this land swap because of David Gareja’s strategic military importance.

Today, the monastery is on the territory of Azerbaijan, Georgia online reports.