Baku, Vaduz point to potential to expand relations
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan and Liechtenstein have hailed the bilateral dialogue as Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with President of the Landtag (Parliament) Albert Frick as part of his visit to Liechtenstein.
Frick has reminded that he had paid a visit to Baku last year, adding that during the visit he held several important meetings. He said he was impressed by rapid development of Azerbaijan and ongoing construction work.
He also noted that he met with Azerbaijani Parliamentary Speaker Ogtay Asadov in Strasbourg, describing cooperation between the two countries’ legislative bodies as fruitful.
He said reciprocal visits play a key role in deepening Azerbaijan-Lichtenstein ties.
Mammadyarov, for his part, said the bilateral relations entered a new era as Frick visited the country in 2015.
The minister further provided an insight into ongoing economic reforms in Azerbaijan, and underlined good potential for expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The FM noted all necessary conditions were created for business activities of Liechtenstein companies in Azerbaijan.
Mammadyarov also touched upon the current state of the negotiations to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
As part of his visit, Azerbaijan’s minister also met Thomas Zwiefelhofer, Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein and Minister of Home Affairs, Justice and Economic Affairs.
Zwiefelhofer assessed Mammadyarov official visit to Liechtenstein as a significant event in terms of development of bilateral relations and pointed out that his country is interested in developing cooperation with Azerbaijan in all spheres.
Touching upon economic cooperation, the Azerbaijani minister
noted about the opportunities for the development of relations in
this sphere.
Mammadyarov informed about major infrastructure and transport
projects implemented in the region by the initiative and
participation of Azerbaijan, including North-South and East-West
international corridors, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line.
The Foreign Minister invited Liechtenstein’s companies actively
carry out activities in Azerbaijan and take part in these
projects.
The meeting stressed the importance of the signing of agreements on avoidance of double taxation and protection of investments in order to expand cooperation in trade and investment.
Moreover, during the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the TAP and TANAP projects and other aspects of cooperation in the economic and trade sphere.
Mammadyarov also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Culture of the Principality of Liechtenstein Aurelia Frick.
The FM noting that Azerbaijan is interested in enhancing
relations with Liechtenstein, mentioned the favorable opportunities
for the development of economic, humanitarian and cultural
relations between the two countries.
In this regard, the sides agreed to hold Azerbaijani cultural days
and promote tourism potential of the country in Liechtenstein.
The two ministers also discussed the cooperation within international organizations and the expansion of bilateral legal-treaty base and exchanged their views on international and regional issues.
During the meeting, Mammadyarov presented the verbal note on the
signing of agreements on visa facilitation and readmission between
Azerbaijan and Switzerland, as well as the European Union to his
counterpart.
Aurelia Frick, in her turn, presented the diplomatic note
stipulating that Lichtenstein will apply provisions of the
Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan on visa facilitation and
readmission to the citizens of Azerbaijan.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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