The Gurbulak gate links Dogubeyazit to the Iranian city of Maku by road. The Kapikoy post marks a rather inadequate railroad link to Iran and Esendere marks the road crossing between the Turkish town of Yuksekova town and Iranian city of Seru. These three crossing points all face serious security problems and are threatened by the Kurdish groups which control the area. Despite Turkey's efforts to establish security in the region through security accords there is still a dangerous situation created by terror groups. The only secure alternative for Turkey to reestablish its long severed relations with the Central Asian Turkic republics is the route through Georgia.
Turkey attaches great importance to Georgia's independence and internal stability.
President Demirel has established a personal friendship with his Georgian counterpart, Eduard Shevardnadze, who was previously an effective foreign minister of the former Soviet Union. Prime Minister Tansu Ciller is expected to soon visit Tbilisi as the guest of her Georgian counterpart Otar Patsatsia. Relations with Georgia have various aspects, particularly in the security field. A special team from the Turkish Interior Ministry is training a Georgian special police team. Other agreements cover the training of high-ranking Georgian police officers at the Ankara Police Academy and the establishment of a police academy in Georgia.