Turkey, Georgia sign a memorandum of cooperation against crime

Turkish Interior Minister Idris Naim Sahin's meeting on Wednesday with his Georgian counterpart Vano Merabishvili in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi ended with the parties signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation against crime. Arriving in Tbilisi on Wednesday, Sahin talked with Merabishvili, and then the two ministers signed the MoU during a joint press conference. The MoU includes topics such as the fight against terrorism and organized crime, along with illegal migration and illegal human trafficking. During the conference, Sahin expressed pleasure over the signing of a security cooperation agreement with Turkey's neighbor and said that Turkey and Georgia have fraternal relations. Claiming that Turkish-Georgian ties will further grow after Wednesday's meeting, Sahin said, "The cooperation between Georgia, an important country in Caucasus, and Turkey, bridging Europe and Asia, will be a model to the whole world." On Wednesday, Sahin also met with Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, Justice Minister Zurab Adeishvili and Giga Bokeria, Secretary of the National Security Council (NSC) of Georgia. Turkey and Georgia have already signed a visa-exemption agreement aimed at bolstering tourism and the economy since Turkey's northern Anatolian region has close links with the south Caucasus country. Georgia and Turkey are in similar positions internationally. Both are members of the Council of Europe (CoE), Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and Black Sea Naval Cooperation Task Group (BLACKSEAFOR). Turkey is a NATO member, while Georgia is a candidate.