Brazil supports UN Security Council resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh
By Rashid Shirinov
The bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Brazil and their further expansion have been discussed in Baku. For this purpose, President of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Rodrigo Maia has paid an official visit to Azerbaijan.
He arrived in Baku on October 30 and met with the Speaker of Azerbaijan’s Parliament Ogtay Asadov and the country's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov on October 31.
Brazil is a supporter to the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of resolutions by the UN Security Council, Rodrigo Maia stated during the meeting with Asadov.
The Azerbainai parliamentary speaker said the first visit of Rodrigo Maia in Azerbaijan as the President of the Chamber of Deputies will give impetus to development of bilateral ties, adding that mutual visits of parliamentarians create opportunities to strengthen the bilateral relations.
Asadov noted that the two countries should organize joint business forums for expansion of Azerbaijan-Brazil cooperation in economic field.
The trade turnover between the countries amounted to $120 million in 2015. This indicator made a sharp rise in the first nine months of 2016, making up $150 million. However, Asadov noted that this growth is still below the potential of the two countries.
The speaker also expressed his gratitude to the Brazilian government for supporting the fair position of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Reminding that Brazil has always recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, Asadov thanked Maia for the fact that recently Brazilian Chamber of Deputies adopted a Declaration condemning Armenia’s occupation policy.
In turn, Maia noted the importance of further expansion of Brazil-Azerbaijan ties, which was the main purpose of his visit to Baku. He stressed the importance of developing cooperation in the oil, gas and tourism sectors between two countries.
At the end, Ogtay Asadov handed Maia the Honorary Diploma of the President of Azerbaijan for his merits in developing friendly bilateral ties between Azerbaijan and Brazil.
Later, Maia was received by Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. They also exchanged views on development of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy and culture.
Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan attaches great importance to developing relations with Latin American countries, as well as with Brazil. The minister mentioned that the visit of Maia would contribute to deepening of relations between the two countries.
Mammadyarov noted that there are opportunities for fruitful activity of Brazilian companies in Azerbaijan due to successful economic reforms in the country. Maia, in turn, said Brazil is interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan in all fields.
The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on October 23, 1993. In addition to embassies, each country created Brazil-Azerbaijan Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group in 2012 and 2013.
Azerbaijan and Brazil share common commitments to universal values, the rule of international law, the principles of the United Nations, including respect for territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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