Azerbaijan, Belarus hail cooperation in inter-parliamentary relations
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani and Belorussian officials praised the cooperation between parliaments of the two countries.
During a visit to Belarus, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with chairman of the House of Representatives of the Belarussian Parliament Vladimir Andreychenko on October 7, the foreign ministry said.
The sides expressed satisfaction with a level of cooperation between the parliaments of Azerbaijan and Belarus.
They stressed the need for further expansion of the existing friendly relations.
The sides also noted that the inter-parliamentary relations play an important role in the development of the traditional friendly relations between the countries and the relations between the countries in different areas have great potential.
Mammadyarov earlier met with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey. The sides discussed the development of relations between the two countries.
Azerbaijan and Belarus relations have a deep history of cooperation. Both countries were part of the Russian Empire until 1918 and before gaining independence in 1991, they were part of the Soviet Union.
Diplomatic relations between two republics established in 1993 but two countries started to get closer during past decade. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to Belarus on October 17-18, 2006 which was the first high level visit of Azerbaijan. During the visit nine bilateral documents were signed.
Currently the two countries enjoy high level ties in various fields and closely cooperate within international organizations. Belarus opened embassy in Azerbaijan in February 2006, Azerbaijan opened embassy in Belarus in August 2006.