Azerbaijani president: Azerbaijan supports resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in line with international law: PHOTO – UPDATE

09:17

On Thursday, the Azerbaijan-Syria Business Forum was held in Baku, state news agency AzerTaj reported.

The business forum was attended by some 120 representatives of companies from Azerbaijan, and almost 70 Syrian businessmen.
The opening of the forum was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of Syria Bashar al-Assad.

Speaking at a business forum, President Ilham Aliyev once again welcomed in Azerbaijan President of Syria Bashar al-Assad and a group of businessmen who had come with him. He highly appreciated the documents signed within the visit and expressed hope for further fruitful cooperation.

In response, the President of Syria Bashar al-Assad expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and affirmed the historic importance of this visit. He considered in detail the possibilities of economic cooperation between the two countries and called businessmen to use business opportunities opened in light of the implementation of the documents signed during the visit.

13:59

Azerbaijan and Syria signed 14 more intergovernmental agreements in the Cabinet of  Ministers as a part of the Syrian President Bashar as-Assad’s visit to Azerbaijan on July 8.

The documents signed include:

“Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between the Chamber of Shipping of Syria and the State Maritime Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan”

“Memorandum on mutual cooperation between the Azerbaijan National Akhundov Library and the Library of Al-Assad  of the Syrian Arab Republic”

“Minutes on intentions on cooperation between the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic”

“Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan Republic Ministry of Industry and the Syrian Arab Republic on industry cooperation”

“The agreement between the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Health of the Syrian Arab Republic on cooperation in the field of health”

“The agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Republic and Ministry of Tourism of the Syrian Arab Republic on tourism cooperation”

“The agreement between the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan Republic and Ministry of Higher Education of the Syrian Arab Republic on cooperation in higher education» and the “Agreement between the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan Republic and Ministry of Education of the Syrian Arab Republic on cooperation in the field of secondary education”

“Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic on cooperation in information and communication technologies”

“Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic on mutual assistance and cooperation in customs affairs”

 “Memorandum of Understanding on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Syrian Arab Republic”

“Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic and the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the field of electricity and renewable energy”

“Agreement on Cooperation between the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Finance of the Syrian Arab Republic”

11:00

Upon completion of a ceremony of signing documents, Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Bashar Al-Assad made statements for the media outlets.

“It is the first official visit of Syrian President to Azerbaijan. We attach huge importance to this visit. I am sure that the visit will be successful and it will give an impetus to Syria-Azerbaijan ties,” said President Ilham Aliyev.

“There are good prospects for Syria-Azerbaijan relations. We place special importance on them. As you know, embassy of Azerbaijan to Syria was opened last year. We successfully cooperate within international organizations. Our cooperation within the UN and Organization of the Islamic Conference help strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Our joint efforts at the regional level bring success as well”

“Our joint efforts within the Organization of Islamic Conference are praiseworthy. We take concrete actions in Azerbaijan to strengthen Islamic solidarity. Baku was designated a capital of Islamic Culture”

“I shared with Mr. President my views on the situation concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijani lands have been under occupation for many years. Although a cease-fire was proclaimed over 15 years ago, the problem remains unsolved”

The Azerbaijani Leader said Armenia`s policy of ethnic purge and military aggression against Azerbaijan led to occupation of 20 percent of our lands and forced over one million IDPs and refugees from their homes.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan supports resolution of the conflict on the basis of international law. UN General Assembly’s decisions, UN Security Council`s four resolutions demand unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories. On the right of self-determination, the President said Armenians, as a nation, have already self-determined themselves. They had a sovereign Armenian state. Therefore, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored.

For his part, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad expressed gratitude to the people and government of Azerbaijan for warm hospitality. He described relationship between Syria and Azerbaijan as “historical”. According to Mr. Bashar al-Assad, his visit will be very successful.

The President noted the Azerbaijani and Syrian peoples had fraternal relationship.
He said “our relations are of strategic importance. They are directed towards future and will include all areas”.

He underlined the main purpose of the visit was to “completely open doors between our countries, private sectors and Syrian and Azerbaijani businessmen”.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the Syrian leader said Azerbaijan`s stance on the dispute is based on international laws. He underscored the necessity of the soonest settlement of the conflict.

Mr. Bashar al-Assad wished President Ilham Aliyev happiness and the Azerbaijani people peace and prosperity.

09:15

Azerbaijan supports resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in line with international law, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a joint news conference with his Syrian counterpart in Baku.

“It is the first official visit of Syrian President to Azerbaijan. We attach huge importance to this visit. I am sure that the visit will be successful and it will give an impetus to Syria-Azerbaijan ties,” said President Ilham Aliyev.

“There are good prospects for Syria-Azerbaijan relations. We place special importance on them. As you know, embassy of Azerbaijan to Syria was opened last year. We successfully cooperate within international organizations. Our cooperation within the UN and Organization of the Islamic Conference help strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Our joint efforts at the regional level bring success as well”

“Our joint efforts within the Organization of Islamic Conference are praiseworthy. We take concrete actions in Azerbaijan to strengthen Islamic solidarity. Baku was designated a capital of Islamic Culture”

“I shared with Mr. President my views on the situation concerning the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Azerbaijani lands have been under occupation for many years. Although a cease-fire was proclaimed over 15 years ago, the problem remains unsolved”

The Azerbaijani Leader said Armenia`s policy of ethnic purge and military aggression against Azerbaijan led to occupation of 20 percent of our lands and forced over one million IDPs and refugees from their homes.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan supports resolution of the conflict on the basis of international law. UN General Assembly’s decisions, UN Security Council`s four resolutions demand unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied territories. On the right of self-determination, the President said Armenians, as a nation, have already self-determined themselves. They had a sovereign Armenian state. Therefore, territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored.

09:10

First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva and Syria`s First Lady Asma al-Assad visited Wednesday the Thalassemia Center in Baku.

Azerbaijan`s Health Minister Ogtay Shiraliyev informed the first ladies of the Center`s activity.
He said the Center which receives about 50 patients a day was constructed as part of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation-initiated “For Life without Thalassemia” Program.
The first ladies were said there are approximately 1000 people living with thalassemia and about 700 of them are under control.

The Center which has three regional branches meets international standards.
First ladies Mehriban Aliyeva and Asma al-Assad toured the Center`s wards.
Mrs. Asma al-Assad praised the work of the Center.


18:01

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met in an enlarged format following one-on-one meeting.

"Honorable Mr. President!Distinguished guests!Once again I welcome you to Azerbaijan. It is your first official visit to Azerbaijan and, I believe, it will be a success. Documents we will sign and talks we will have during the visit will push the relations between our countries to a new level.

We want the Syrian-Azerbaijan relations expand in all fields, bringing benefit to both countries. I hope your visit will be successful and give a strong boost to our relations," Azerbaijani president said.

"Mr. President, I thank you on behalf of myself and my entourage.
We have been shown warm hospitality since our arrival to your country. Since our arrival we have felt that all the doors are open for cooperation between the two countries, and it makes us confident in stronger future of our relations.

In the early 1990s President Heydar Aliyev and Hafiz Assad had big plans concerning development of the bilateral relations. Our countries have strategic position on the world scale. Our countries have friendly and good relations with both countries of the region and our neighbors.I believe that these relations have a positive impact on our position in general," Syrian president said.

/AzerTaj/


17:34

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met in an enlarged format following one-on-one meeting. 

The presidents said they are confident that documents signed during Syrian president’s first visit to Azerbaijan and success achieved will mark new level of relations between the countries.

/AzerTaj/

16:29

Azerbaijan and Syria signed an agreement on exemption of the persons with diplomatic, official and special passports from visa requirements. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria Walid Al-Muallem signed the agreement.

First Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov and Vice Prime Minister of Syria for economic affairs Abdullah Al-Dardari signed an agreement on the Cultural Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Syrian Arab Republic.

First Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov and Vice Prime Minister of Syria for economic affairs Abdullah Al-Dardari also signed an agreement to launch Joint Commission on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of Syrian Arab Republic.

They also signed agreements on energy and industrial cooperation and  mutual investments.

/APA, AzerTaj/


15:33  

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev and Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have today met in private following their talk in presence of the two countries` first ladies Mehriban Aliyeva and Asma al-Assad.

The two presidents expressed satisfaction at development of the Azerbaijan-Syria relations.
They expressed confidence the bilateral relations would continue enhancing, and that the Syrian leader`s visit will push them to a new level.

The presidents also exchanged views on regional and international developments.

13:56

President of Syria Bashar al-Assad has today arrived in Azerbaijan`s capital on a two-day official visit.

The Syrian leader and his spouse were welcomed here by First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov and other officials. Later Syrian and Azerbaijani Presidents had a one-on-one meeting.

/AzerTaj/