Presidents of Azerbaijan and Greece attend Azerbaijani-Greek business forum - UPDATE - PHOTOS

Baku Business Center hosted the fourth Azerbaijani-Greek business forum on April 6, the Azerbaijani president’s official website reported.

The business forum was attended by the Presidents of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Greece Karolos Papoulias.

Opening the business forum with 250 business people from Azerbaijan and Greece, President Aliyev mentioned the successful progress of Greek President Karolos Papoulias's official visit to Azerbaijan. He expressed a hope that the negotiations and the undersigned documents will give impetus to further strengthening of relations between the two countries.

"High-level political relations between the countries have attained the top level and mutual visits of the Heads of State clearly testify for it," President Aliyev said. He highlighted the great potential for developing economic ties.

President Aliyev particularly stressed the efficiency of the activities of ​​the joint inter-governmental commission in this regard.

President Aliyev said the two countries successfully cooperate in oil and gas sector. Azerbaijan has been exporting gas to Greece since 2007 and gas exports will increase in volume under the memorandum signed during Greek President Papoulias's official visit. Over the past period Azerbaijan and Greece, whose economic interests coincide, have confirmed their image of a reliable partner, the Azerbaijani president stressed, expressing confidence that the countries will further conduct effective activities to diversify economic cooperation.

Speaking of the plans on new investments in the gas sector of Azerbaijan, whose proven reserves are estimated at 2.2 trillion cubic meters of gas, President Aliyev called upon the business people of both countries to increase mutual investments.

Describing the event as an example of high-level economic ties between the countries, the Greek President Papoulias mentioned the great potential of cooperation with Azerbaijan, which occupies a leading position in the South Caucasus in various fields. The real basis for ongoing cooperation between the business circles was laid during the Azerbaijani President's visit to Athens in 2009 and the Azerbaijani-Greek business forum conducted during this visit opened up new opportunities for trade and economic cooperation, Karolos Papoulias added. He praised the existing relations between the countries in the energy sector.

After the business forum, the Presidents viewed the panorama of the capital from the National Park.

President Aliyev told the Greek President Karolos Papoulias about improvement and construction activities carried out in Azerbaijan's capital over recent years.

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Azerbaijan attaches special importance to Greek President Karolos Papoulias’s visit, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said in his statement for media, the Azerbaijani President’s official website reported. "I am sure it will be very successful and bring excellent results," he said.

President Aliyev said the two countries’ political ties are rapidly developing. "I visited your country two years ago. I very well remember that visit. Our negotiations and exchanges of views during the visit have also demonstrated that the relations between our two countries have great prospects. Your current visit once again testifies for it," Aliyev added.

Aliyev said the parties will achieve the development of bilateral ties thanks to the talks held during this visit. The bilateral agenda is large enough and today we had an extensive exchange of views. There are excellent prospects to develop our political ties.

Pointing to extensive mutual interests in the economic sphere, the Azerbaijani President highlighted the importance of the Azerbaijani-Greek business forum that would facilitate the establishment of effective contacts between business people.

"We will be very pleased to see the Greek companies in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan opens new opportunities for work. In short, good prospects exist to deepen the economic cooperation. A joint Azerbaijani-Greek intergovernmental commission is also effectively working and today we were informed about its activities," he added.

Aliyev stressed that the Azerbaijani -Greek cooperation is also successfully developing in the energy sector, which is an important area in the two countries’ ​​ relations. "This area already gave primary results. Azerbaijani gas has been transported to Greece for several years. I believe the document signed today will further expand cooperation and our opportunities in this area in the future. Azerbaijan is interested in increasing gas exports to Greece, and we also want to use Greece’s transit opportunities in the future. In short, the cooperation in this area will serve not only to the development of our bilateral relations, but also give a serious impetus to the cooperation between Azerbaijan and European countries in the gas sphere," Aliyev said.

He said the ongoing negotiations between the European Union and Azerbaijan should lead to the development of cooperation in the gas sphere. "We are interested in this. Azerbaijan is making efforts to ensure Europe’s energy security and this cooperation will be even wider in the future. We have no doubt about this. A Joint Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor signed between the European Union and Azerbaijan in early 2011 is being realized. Surely, Azerbaijan will be a reliable gas supplier for Europe with the implementation of the tasks reflected in the declaration of tasks. In other words, great opportunities and even greater prospects exist for cooperation in this field. In addition, Greece has a very positive role in terms of developing the EU-Azerbaijan relations. Today, I expressed my appreciation to you for it. The Eastern Partnership program is also being realized today, which also may have excellent prospects," he added.

Aliyev said the sides exchanged views on regional cooperation and processes ongoing in the region, as well as adopting additional measures to enhance security in the region.

"I have informed Mr. President about the recent talks on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The talks are underway and we hope that they will lead to success. We want the execution of the international organizations’ decisions and resolutions. As you know, our lands are under occupation for many years. Despite the international organizations’ decisions and resolutions, the occupation is still ongoing. The UN Security Council and other international organizations - the OSCE, Council of Europe, Organization of Islamic Conference, the European parliament - have adopted several resolutions to put an end to the occupation of Azerbaijani lands. We hope that the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be resolved on the basis of the international law principles within the countries’ territorial integrity. I want to once again say that I have informed President Papoulias on this and expressed thoughts about Azerbaijan’s position," he added.

Aliyev said generally the Azerbaijani-Greek relations have been developing very successfully and rapidly. "We are very pleased with the level of our relations and this visit demonstrates the high level of mutual trust between our countries and that we have mutual interests. I am confident that the Azerbaijani and Greek citizens will know each other better as a result of the development of bilateral relations. The contacts between people will be even closer. Thus, the Azerbaijani-Greek relations will develop even more rapidly in the future," Aliyev said.

"Mr. President, I once again sincerely welcome you and all members of the delegation accompanying you in Azerbaijan. I am confident that your visit will be memorable and you will return home with pleasant experiences," President Aliyev said.

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Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev hosted Tuesday an official reception in honor of the President of Greece Karolos Papoulias, who is in Azerbaijan on an official visit, the official website of the Azerbaijani President reported.

The heads of state made speeches during the reception.

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Presidents of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Greece Karolos Papoulias have made today press statements, Azerbaijani President’s official website reported.

President Aliyev once again welcomed Greek President in Azerbaijan. President Aliyev said the Greek leader's visit was given great importance in his country. The Head of State noted political relations between the two countries were developing rapidly. President Aliyev recalled his visit to Athens two years ago and underlined the importance of the negotiations conducted here. The Head of State pointed out relations between the two countries have good prospects.

President Aliyev also touched upon the importance of Azerbaijan-Greece business forum, saying it will contribute to establishment of good relations between businessmen.

The Head of State described the activity of the Azerbaijan-Greece intergovernmental commission as "fruitful". He also underscored the importance of bilateral energy cooperation.

Greek President Papoulias expressed satisfaction with his visit to Baku and hospitality provided to him and delegation here.

He described relations between Azerbaijan and Greece as "positive". President Papoulias also stressed the importance of the documents signed. He underscored the necessity of strengthening bilateral economic and trade cooperation, adding Azerbaijan-Greece business forum opens great opportunities for this.

The Greek leader also praised bilateral energy cooperation, stressing his country is interested in transporting Azerbaijan's natural gas.

Papoulias emphasized the necessity of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

He said Greece puts special emphasis on implementation of the Eastern Partnership program.

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Azerbaijan's relations with Greece are developing rapidly, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at an enlarged meeting in presence of the two countries’ delegations, Azerbaijani President’s official website reported.

President Aliyev voiced his confidence that the Geek President’s current visit would be an important stage in development of relations. He said that political relations are developing and the Greek President’s current visit testifies for it.

President Aliyev also stressed good prospects for economic cooperation and highlighted the intergovernmental commission’s successful activity.

"There are good traditions in the energy cooperation, and I hope that these relations will enter a new stage in the near future," he said.

President of Azerbaijan also stressed necessity of deepening humanitarian links among the citizens of both countries and thus to diversify the bilateral ties for strong cooperation with good results.

President Aliyev expressed confidence that the visit will be successful, and Azerbaijan and Greece will do much after it. Greek President Papoulias thanked for the warm hospitality.

He said the bilateral relations have a great future. Reminding Azerbaijan President`s visit to Athens, President Papoulias said it was a new stage in development of bilateral relations.

He expressed hope that his current visit will give new impetus to the development of relations.

Presidents have made joint press statements.

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Following a ceremony of signing of Azerbaijan-Greece documents, Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Karolos Papoulias have made joint press statements.

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President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Karolos Papoulias of Greece met in presence of delegations.

President of Azerbaijan welcomed his Greek counterpart, stating that Azerbaijan and Greece enjoy high level bilateral relationship. He said the Geek president's current visit would be an important stage in development of relations. "Political relations are developing and intergovernmental commissions cooperate successfully", President Aliyev underlined, noting historical traditions in energy cooperation between the two countries.

President of Azerbaijan also stressed necessity of humanitarian links among the citizens of both countries and thus to diversify the bilateral ties for strong cooperation with good results.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence for more successful cooperation in the years ahead.

President of Greece Karolos Papoulias thanked head of the Azerbaijan state, also expressing hope for fruitful cooperation in coming years. Reminding Azerbaijan President`s visit to Athens, he said it was a new stage in development of bilateral relations.

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Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Karolos Papoulias of Greece met in private. Presidents stressed political, economic and bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Greece were developing successfully.

The parties underlined the countries have good prospects for cooperation in the field of energy. Heads of State also discussed bilateral and international issues.

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President of the Republic of Greece Karolos Papoulias today was given an official welcome in Azerbaijan. A guard of honor was lined up at the square decorated with the national flags of Azerbaijan and Greece.

The President of Greece was warmly welcomed by the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The two Presidents inspected a ceremonial Guard of Honor as a military orchestra played the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Greece.

Azerbaijani officials were introduced to the President Karolos Papoulias, while members of the delegation of Greece to President Ilham Aliyev.

The presidents then posed for photographs.

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President of Greece Karolos Papoulias has visited the Alley of Honours.

The president laid a wreath at the tomb of the national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev. He also put flowers at the grave of the prominent ophthalmologist, academician Zarifa Aliyeva.

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President of Greece Karolos Papoulias today has visited the Alley of Martyrs. A guard of honor was lined up for the President. The President laid wreath at the “Eternal Torch” in the Martyrs’ Alley.

The detached exemplary military orchestra of the Ministry of Defense performed the National Anthem of Azerbaijan and Greece.

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President of the Republic of Greece Karolos Papoulias Monday arrived in Azerbaijan.

At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport the guest was welcomed by the First Deputy Premier of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov and other officials.

The children in national garments presented flowers to the Greek president. President of Greece and First Vice Premier of Azerbaijan had a short talk at VIP hall of the airport.


/AzerTAc, Trend/

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