Azernews.Az

BAKU – Economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia will see a turning point in 2011 and 2012, Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic said after talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart in Baku on Thursday.

"The Serbian government plans hefty investments in Azerbaijan’s energy, infrastructure and banking sectors," Jeremic told a news conference.

He said Serbia considers the South Caucasus republic a special partner.

"The positions of the two countries overlap on a host of complex issues, and both countries accept the rule of such principles of international law as the territorial integrity and sovereignty of states."

The Serbian minister said his country adheres to an unequivocal stance on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. "Serbia supports a peaceful settlement of the conflict on the basis of international law and principles."

Elmar Mammadyarov, the Azerbaijani foreign minister, said Baku was ready to expand its relations with Serbia in all areas. Mammadyarov said he had discussed with Jeremic a number of projects covering infrastructure, banking, culture and sports.

The parties agreed during the ministers’ meeting to hold Days of Culture in the two countries and arrange a visit by the Belgrade Philharmonic Orchestra performers to Azerbaijan.

On the same day, the Serbian minister had a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev.

The president stressed the high level of political relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan. Aliyev pointed to the importance of mutual visits and said there was extensive potential to further develop bilateral relations.