Baku, Ramallah call for intensification of business ties
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan and Palestine highlighted the importance of intensification of relations between business circles of two sides for mutually beneficial cooperation.
This was announced during the meeting of Azerbaijan's Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki on October 15.
They discussed the capacities of Azerbaijani-Palestinian economic relations on the backgrounds of economic successes of Azerbaijan.
Al-Maliki said Palestine attaches importance to expanding relations with Azerbaijan.
Touching upon the regional conflicts in the modern world, the sides stressed the importance of solving these problems on the basis of norms of international law and principles of the territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.
During a meeting with Speaker of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov on the same day, Al-Maliki said Palestine appreciates Azerbaijan`s support and always felt it.
He said Palestine attaches great importance to developing relations with Azerbaijan in a variety of fields.
Al-Maliki further added that he held fruitful discussions on the expansion of bilateral relations during his visit to Baku.
Asadov noted that Azerbaijan and Palestine enjoyed traditional friendly relations. The Speaker said Azerbaijan had always supported Palestine within international organizations, adding this support would be continued. He said there was big capacity for the development of ties in humanitarian and social fields.
He also said a memorandum of understanding signed between the two foreign ministries would contribute to deepening cooperation.
He earlier met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. During a meeting with Mammadyarov, the sides signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the mechanism of political consultations between the foreign ministries of two sides.
The two Muslim nations - Azerbaijan and Palestine- enjoy friendly relations for a long time. The protocol for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides was signed in April 15, 1992.
In 2013, Minister Mammadyarov held high-level talks with Palestinian officials on the Middle East peace process and discussed the opportunities of expanding bilateral relations and cooperation within international organizations, economic, trade and cultural relations with Palestine.
Earlier, in June 2011, Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas paid a visit to Azerbaijan, which further strengthened ties between the two nations.
Azerbaijan has always stated that it backs a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is one of the main issues of concern in the Middle East causing numerous clashes and wars between nations over the past several decades.