Georgia, Azerbaijan To Launch Joint Bid For Euro 2020

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili (left) and his Azerbaijani conterpart, Ilham Aliyev (file photo)

BAKU -- Georgian President Mikheil Saakshvili has announced that Georgia and neighboring Azerbaijan will make a joint bid to host the European football championship finals in 2020.

Saakashvili made the announcement in an address to Azerbaijan's parliament during an official visit to Baku.

The bidding process to host Euro 2020 is expected to start later this year, with the winner announced in 2014.

The planned Georgia-Azerbaijan bid comes as Ukraine and Poland prepare to jointly host this year's European football championship finals.

The 2016 tournament is to be held in France.

During his visit, Saakashvili is also expected to hold talks with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev on bilateral cooperation in the oil and natural gas sector and regional security issues.