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Baku, Bucharest express satisfaction with development of strategic partnership

16 September 2014 14:39 (UTC+04:00)
Baku, Bucharest express satisfaction with development of strategic partnership

By Sara Rajabova

Strategic partnership and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Romania was in the focus during Azerbaijani Foreign Minister's visit to Bucharest.

Elmar Mammadyarov paid an official visit to Bucharest on September 15 and held a number of meetings with Romanian officials, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.

During the meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu, the sides expressed satisfaction with the development of strategic partnership between the two countries. They also highlighted the capacities to increase cooperation in the energy, economic, investment and cultural spheres.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was also discussed during the meeting of Mammadyarov and his Romanian counterpart Titus Corlatean.

Mammadyarov praised Romania's firm stance on settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in the frame of international law, territorial integrity of states, sovereignty and inviolability of borders. He also thanked the constant support of the Bucharest for the fair cause of Azerbaijan.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

The two foreign ministers further expressed pleasure with the current level of strategic partnership and cooperation between the countries, discussed expansion of the political, economic and trade relations, and also the questions of reciprocal protection of investments and cooperation on the international organizations, as well as regional security.

The two sides also stressed the importance of large-scale energy projects initiated by Azerbaijan and the role of the country in strengthening of energy security of Europe.

During the talk, they also discussed the development of economic relations between Azerbaijan and Romania.

Mammadyarov and Corlatean underlined the necessity of developing strategic partnership relations, to hold regularly meetings of the Azerbaijan-Romania inter-governmental Commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation and organizing business forums with the participation of business circles next year.

Then, the foreign minister held a news conference.

On the same day, Mammadyarov also met with President of the Romanian Senate Calin Popescu.

The two sides discussed close ties in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres and noted with satisfaction the active cooperation of Azerbaijan and Romania within the international organizations. They also stressed the crucial role of the inter-parliamentary relations between the two countries in the development of friendship and cooperation.

Noting the need to reach the level of strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union, Mammadyarov highly appreciated Romania's support in this direction.

He also spoke about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, noting the necessity of liberation of Azerbaijani territories from Armenian occupation. He stressed that Armenia hasn't fulfilled yet the four UN Security Council resolutions demanding immediate withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azerbaijani territories.

On the second day of his visit, Mammadyarov met with Romanian Energy Minister Razvan Nicolescu.

Nicolescu said Romania is interested in closer cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector.

The sides discussed the energy cooperation between the two countries, in particular the AGRI project.

Mammadyarov appreciated the cooperation with Romania, stressing that alternative options for energy supply are in the interests of both countries.

He also informed Nicolescu about the implementation of TANAP and TAP projects.

Azerbaijan and Romania have a long history of relations dating back to the 15th century.

Romania officially recognized Azerbaijan's independence on December 11, 1991. The two countries established diplomatic relations on June 19, 1992. The countries have established embassies in their respective capitals.

While the two share good cooperation in multiple areas, the main focus has been on trade and energy links, with trade delegations and frequent talks regarding the further development of such ties and an increase in bilateral trade since trade originating from Azerbaijan approximately five times more than ($161 million) of those from Romania ($31.83 million).

Romania also has been a strong advocate of Azerbaijan's future membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), pointing out the strategic importance of the country for trade and shipping, particularly with a view towards Afghanistan.

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