Baku, Riga hail development of ties
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan and Latvia have expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral ties during an official visit by Azerbaijan’s foreign policy head to Riga.
Elmar Mammadyarov discussed Azerbaijan-Latvia cooperation in different fields during meetings with the Latvian president, prime minister and parliament speaker on April 15.
“Azerbaijan intends to improve cooperation with the European Union in energy and other spheres,” Mammadyarov said at the meeting with Latvian President Andris Berzins.
He emphasized the significance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU within the Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) gas pipeline projects, Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry reported.
Mammadyarov congratulated the Latvian president in regard to the country’s successful presidency over the Council of the European Union.
He also briefed Berzins about the process of negotiations on the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding that Riga’s position is enshrined in the documents signed between the two countries.
Berzins, for this part, expressed hope that Azerbaijan will be represented in the summit of the participating states of the EU Eastern Partnership, which will be held in Riga on May 21-22, at the highest level.
During his Latvia visit, Mammadyarov also met with Laimdota Straujuma, Latvia’s prime minister and Inara Murniece, speaker of the country’s Seimas (parliament).
Latvian officials emphasized at the meetings the strategic importance of Azerbaijan, noting that the country plays an important role in the future development of relations within the EU Eastern Partnership program.
Alongside with the upcoming Riga summit of the participating countries of the EU Eastern Partnership program, the sides discussed the issues relating to the development of bilateral relations, the situation in the South Caucasus and energy issues.
Diplomatic relations between Latvia and Azerbaijan were established in January 1994.
Azerbaijan’s diplomatic mission in Riga was launched in November 2005, while Latvia’s diplomatic mission in Baku started its work in November 2006.
The countries actively cooperate within the framework of international organizations, such as the EU and NATO.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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