Azerbaijani, Ukrainian presidents meet, sign several documents - UPDATE - PHOTOS

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev Thursday hosted an official reception in honour of the visiting President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, the Azerbaijani President's official website reported.

The presidents made speeches at the reception.

*****

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine yesterday gave a joint press conference, the official website of the Azerbaijani President reported.

The Azerbaijani leader said it was Mr. Yanukovych's first visit to Baku in the capacity of the president of Ukraine.

President Aliyev said the talks held during the visit once again proved that the Azerbaijani and Ukrainian peoples had close relations.

The Azerbaijani leader said the two countries were supporting each other within international organizations.

President Aliyev said: "Today we discussed a wide range of issues, including the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict."

"I want to thank Ukraine for its principal position on the conflict's settlement. It was highlighted in the joint declaration that we signed today."

"The declaration highlights the importance of solving the conflict on the basis of international legal norms and the principles of territorial integrity of countries, their sovereignty and inviolability of borders," he added.

The Azerbaijani leader said they also discussed economic relations between the two countries, adding the rapid growth of the bilateral trade was a source of optimism.

The President said investment, military-technical and energy cooperation were also among the priority issues for Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

President Yanukovych recalled his last visit to Azerbaijan five years ago, saying Baku considerably changed and became more beautiful.

"This proves that Azerbaijan is developing at a very rapid pace."

The Ukrainian President praised national leader Heydar Aliyev's role in developing the two countries' relations.

Mr. Yanukovych said the two countries were considering a range of projects in the fields of investment and science.

The presidents' remarks were followed by a question-and-answer session with journalists.

*****
28.IV.2011

The third meeting of Council of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine took place following a private meeting of Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine, Azerbaijani President’s official website reported.

Members of the Azerbaijani and Ukrainian delegations also attended the meeting.

Opening the meeting, President Aliyev welcomed President Yanukovych.

"This is your first visit to Azerbaijan as the Ukrainian President. I am confident that this visit will be successful. We will achieve good results and actively move forward. I also want to thank you for the hospitality shown during my visit to your country in 2010," Aliyev said.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Ukraine have defined the main directions of bilateral cooperation. The two countries are actively moving forward in all directions, intergovernmental commission is effectively running and political dialogue is developing.

"At today’s one-on-one meeting, we have already discussed a broad agenda of our relations. However, we will also mull the agreed agenda at the Council of Presidents today. It is extensive, very detailed and specific," Aliyev said.

President Aliyev expressed confidence that further steps will be defined to develop the relations following the Council of Presidents. "We very much appreciate these relations, we value them and are confident that further progressive development of the Ukraine-Azerbaijan relations will also contribute to a wider regional cooperation," Aliyev said.

The President expressed hope that the visit will be successful and enjoyable.

President Yanukovych expressed his gratitude to President Aliyev for the invitation and opportunity to visit Azerbaijan with an official visit. "Our countries are strategic partners for a long time. This, I would say, is a vivid example of how to build relations between the very close countries," he said.

Yanukovych said the two countries successfully develop relations at the bilateral level. "Our inter-governmental commission and subcommittees operate well. They work on all directions and the growth of the trade turnover between our countries to a record in 2010 is evidence to it," Yanukovych said.

But this is not the limit, he said. "I am confident that we have much wider opportunities. I was pleased to see that Ukraine has become the second largest trading partner of Azerbaijan after Russia. That's fine. We are also very comfortable to build relations with you," Yanukovych said.

*****

Azerbaijan and Ukraine have signed several bilateral documents following the third meeting of Council of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine.

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine signed Joint Declaration on future development of strategic partnership relations of Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the Protocol of the third meeting of Council of Presidents of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, Action Plan on Comprehensive Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ukraine for 2011-2015.

*****

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine have today met in private.

During the meeting, the presidents said bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine were developing successfully in a variety of fields.

They stressed the importance of high-level reciprocal visits in terms of strengthening relationship.

The presidents said good potential exist for development of cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, energy, humanitarian and other spheres.

The parties also exchanged views bilateral, regional and international issues. 

*****

President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych 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 Ukraine.

The President of Ukraine 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 Ukraine.

Azerbaijani officials were introduced to President Viktor Yanukovych, while members of the delegation of Ukraine to President Ilham Aliyev.

The presidents then posed for photographs.


/AzerTAc, Trend/

Click to enlarge: