Azeri, Swiss presidents praise ties
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, paying an
official visit to Switzerland, met with his Swiss counterpart
Hans-Rudolf Merz on Monday, Azerbaijan`s state-run Azertag news
agency reported.
Merz said ``we have intensive relations at the level of heads of state and other levels.`` He added that inter-parliamentary groups contribute to boosting bilateral relationship.
According to the Swiss president, bilateral economic cooperation is developing rapidly. ``Our energy cooperation is expanding, we have projects in non-energy sector, as well``, he added.
Merz underlined the importance of expanding cooperation in the alternative energy sector. He also praised the fact that the trade turnover between the two countries has increased.
Regarding Days of Azerbaijan being held in Switzerland, he noted ``such events contribute to bringing our peoples closer.``
President Aliyev said his first official visit to Switzerland serves deepening of bilateral relations.
The president pointed out that bilateral economic cooperation was developing rapidly and that the two countries have greater potential for this. He also said ``we have strong political ties.``
The Azerbaijani leader underlined that ``our energy cooperation is continuing successfully``, adding ``there are good opportunities in non-energy sector and they should be expanded.``
On the same day, Aliyev met with Alain Berset, the President of the Swiss Council of States.
Further, President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inaugural concert of a series of Azerbaijani cultural events to be held throughout Switzerland in the next six weeks, along with the Swiss president.
Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to Switzerland, Elchin Amirbayov, told swissinfo.ch news website prior to President Aliyev`s visit that talks are expected to focus on economic issues and that Aliyev`s visit is an opportunity to raise Azerbaijan`s international profile. However, the unresolved conflict between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia could also be raised within the context of Swiss mediation in the South Caucasus.
AzerNEWS presents the interview with the ambassador.
Q. What issues are of particular interest between the two countries?
A. I think Switzerland is mainly interested in having Azerbaijan as one of its major partners in terms of energy cooperation.
A second thing is political dialogue and the role that Switzerland has been recently playing in the South Caucasus, taking over the representation functions between Georgia and Russia and also trying to play a more active role in bringing Turkey and Armenia closer together. There is also its interest in a peaceful resolution of all unresolved conflicts in the region of the South Caucasus, including the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In a broader economic field, Switzerland is one of the most important countries for Azerbaijan in terms of direct foreign investment into the non-energy sector.
Q. Do you think you are succeeding in your aim of making ordinary Swiss people more aware of Azerbaijan?
A. We have only been present in Bern since 2005. And in the last four years we have noticed that, at least, many people can now pronounce the word `Azerbaijan`! And we have a lot of passers-by who look at the flag and some of them knock at the door and ask where this country is.
The fact that we`ve been able to organize a number of cultural events means people have a chance to decide for themselves what the country is about.
Merz said ``we have intensive relations at the level of heads of state and other levels.`` He added that inter-parliamentary groups contribute to boosting bilateral relationship.
According to the Swiss president, bilateral economic cooperation is developing rapidly. ``Our energy cooperation is expanding, we have projects in non-energy sector, as well``, he added.
Merz underlined the importance of expanding cooperation in the alternative energy sector. He also praised the fact that the trade turnover between the two countries has increased.
Regarding Days of Azerbaijan being held in Switzerland, he noted ``such events contribute to bringing our peoples closer.``
President Aliyev said his first official visit to Switzerland serves deepening of bilateral relations.
The president pointed out that bilateral economic cooperation was developing rapidly and that the two countries have greater potential for this. He also said ``we have strong political ties.``
The Azerbaijani leader underlined that ``our energy cooperation is continuing successfully``, adding ``there are good opportunities in non-energy sector and they should be expanded.``
On the same day, Aliyev met with Alain Berset, the President of the Swiss Council of States.
Further, President Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the inaugural concert of a series of Azerbaijani cultural events to be held throughout Switzerland in the next six weeks, along with the Swiss president.
Azerbaijan`s Ambassador to Switzerland, Elchin Amirbayov, told swissinfo.ch news website prior to President Aliyev`s visit that talks are expected to focus on economic issues and that Aliyev`s visit is an opportunity to raise Azerbaijan`s international profile. However, the unresolved conflict between Azerbaijan and neighboring Armenia could also be raised within the context of Swiss mediation in the South Caucasus.
AzerNEWS presents the interview with the ambassador.
Q. What issues are of particular interest between the two countries?
A. I think Switzerland is mainly interested in having Azerbaijan as one of its major partners in terms of energy cooperation.
A second thing is political dialogue and the role that Switzerland has been recently playing in the South Caucasus, taking over the representation functions between Georgia and Russia and also trying to play a more active role in bringing Turkey and Armenia closer together. There is also its interest in a peaceful resolution of all unresolved conflicts in the region of the South Caucasus, including the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
In a broader economic field, Switzerland is one of the most important countries for Azerbaijan in terms of direct foreign investment into the non-energy sector.
Q. Do you think you are succeeding in your aim of making ordinary Swiss people more aware of Azerbaijan?
A. We have only been present in Bern since 2005. And in the last four years we have noticed that, at least, many people can now pronounce the word `Azerbaijan`! And we have a lot of passers-by who look at the flag and some of them knock at the door and ask where this country is.
The fact that we`ve been able to organize a number of cultural events means people have a chance to decide for themselves what the country is about.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
Subscribe
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!