The demarcation issue of the Georgian-Azerbaijani border is no longer urgent, Azerbaijani MP, political scientist Rasim Musabayev told Georgian Pirveli agency. According to him, border problems are not expected to arise amid bilateral friendly relations.

The fact that Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili seeks creation of Georgia-Azerbaijan confederation and the two states are on good-neighborly terms, no border problems must exist,” Musabayev said, stressing Georgian citizens may freely cross the border.

According to him, David Gareja monastery complex is the “weakpoint” in Georgia-Azerbaijan relations.  He noted Georgia lays claims on the complex. However, it is of historic and cultural significance to Azerbaijan too.

“Azerbaijan is a Muslim country, but it has close ties with the Christian culture. David Gareja complex is of historic and cultural importance to Azerbaijan and Georgians can cross the border and utter a prayer in the complex,” he said. The expert said the two states may exchange territory.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am reported earlier Azerbaijan and Georgia have been holding talks for several years on David Gareja monastery complex on the border.

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.