Azerbaijan, Spain mull expansion of cooperation
By Aynur Jafarova
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation José García-Margallo y Marfil on April 23.
The head of state expressed hope that the visit of the delegation led by José García-Margallo y Marfil to Azerbaijan would contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.
Recalling with satisfaction his meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Brey in Vilnius, President Aliyev said they held fruitful discussions on the expansion of cooperation.
President Aliyev stressed the importance of mutual interest in developing cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including politics, economics and culture.
The minister conveyed greetings on behalf of the Spanish King and Prime Minister to the head of state. He handed a letter of Mariano Rajoy Brey to President Aliyev inviting him to visit Spain.
The minister further said Premier Mariano Rajoy Brey also recalled with satisfaction his meeting with the Azerbaijani President in Vilnius.
Saying it was the first visit of the Spanish minister to Azerbaijan, José García-Margallo y Marfil stressed the importance of the visit in terms of the expansion of the relations.
The head of state thanked for the greetings of King of Spain Juan Carlos and Premier Mariano Rajoy Brey, and asked the Spanish Minister to communicate his greetings to the Spanish King and Prime Minister.
As part of the visit to Azerbaijan, the Spanish minister was received by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov.
Spain recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991. Diplomatic relations were established in February 1992.
The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about $158.4 million in 2012.
Azerbaijan's embassy in Spain has initiated the establishment of a joint chamber of commerce with aims to increase the trade turnover between the two countries, to attract Spanish companies to Azerbaijan, take Azerbaijani goods to the Spanish market, to organize mutual business forums, trade and investment missions, and to organize other events to promote bilateral cooperation.