Eurasianet

Officials have tried to ignore the situation for years, but appear to have been spurred into action by the president.

Expanding aviation capacities is part of the country's bigger ambitions of boosting its international transit role.

Until now there have been nearly no arms sales from Western countries to Azerbaijan or its rival, Armenia.

There is a monument on Georgia's Black Sea coast honoring the indigenous Caucasians who were displaced or lost their lives at the hands of the Russian Empire in the 19th century.