Azernews.Az

The Austrian and Azerbaijani foreign ministers signed an agreement on lifting visa regulations for diplomats and state servants in Baku on Wednesday.
Azerbaijan’s Elmar Mammadyarov described the agreement as a very important document at a news conference after the signing.
Mammadyarov said that during the meeting with his Austrian counterpart, Michael Spindelegger, he had briefed him on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh, as well as discussed with him energy issues. Also, the parties agreed to hold Days of Culture in both countries and to expand cooperation between the two countries’ diplomatic academies.
Mammadyarov noted that the recent opening of the Austrian embassy in Azerbaijan will foster vast opportunities for broadening bilateral cooperation, saying his country was ready for such collaboration.
The Austrian embassy opened in Azerbaijan on Wednesday.
Speaking about prospects for economic relations, Mammadyarov emphasized that Austrian energy major OMV has opened an office in Baku, while Azerbaijan’s state energy firm SOCAR has opened a representation in Vienna.
Spindelegger, for his part, said there historically has been special proximity between Austria and Azerbaijan, however, the two countries are currently discussing prospects of deeper cooperation.
"Economic relations will be a priority in bilateral ties. But political relations are the core of all relations," the Austrian minister said.
Spindelegger invited his Azerbaijani counterpart to pay an official visit to Austria.*