Georgia, Turkey to sign free trade agreement - Saakashvili

PRIME-TASS cited him as saying that the agreement would substantially increase trade between the two countries and simplify its procedure.

According to Georgia's national security concept approved by the parliament two years ago, the US, the European Union, Turkey and Ukraine are strategic partners.

Turkey is the second-largest trade partner of Georgia after Russia since the 1990s.

Over the recent months, trade between Georgia and Russia has significantly dwindled, while trade with Turkeys has been increasing, which can bring it to the first place.

In 2006, Russia had an 17.9 percent proportion in Georgia's foreign trade, Turkey 15.2 percent and Azerbaijan 9.3 percent. Itar-Tass