Azernews.Az

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu invited his Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, to pay an official visit to his country. Mammadyarov accepted the invitation, and the visit may take place in the second half of December, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The two ministers, who met on the sidelines of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Athens, held comprehensive discussions on all facets of bilateral relations. Discussions focused on regional issues, in particular, the Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh conflict and the process of normalizing Turkey-Armenia relations.
Davutoglu stressed the importance of resolving the Garabagh problem to ensure peace and security in the volatile region. He reiterated Ankara’s assurances, saying the protocols on mending ties, signed with Yerevan in October, could be ratified in parliament and enforced only after the Azerbaijani territories are freed from Armenian occupation.
Mammadyarov briefed his Turkish counterpart on the current state of talks on conflict settlement underway with Armenia.
Davutoglu told reporters that a number of issues will be discussed during the Azerbaijani foreign minister’s visit to Turkey. These include the issue of lifting visa regulations between the two countries. "I believe these discussions will produce positive results," the Turkish minister said.
In Athens, Mammadyarov also had meetings with foreign ministers Avigdor Liberman of Israel, Urmas Paet of Estonia and Miroslav Lajcak of Slovakia.
Mammadyarov`s meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins focused on prospects for the bilateral relations. The two stressed the importance of boosting political, economic and humanitarian cooperation. They also discussed the Eastern Partnership Initiative, and Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan was adhered to its commitments to bring the living standards of its population to European ones. *