Azernews.Az

BAKU – Serbian President Boris Tadic has told visiting Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov that his country supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and its fair position on the conflict with Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh.

Hosting Mammadyarov on Wednesday, Tadic also thanked Baku for its support to Serbia on the Kosovo dispute.

Tadic said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to his country, due June 8-9, will serve to deepen cooperation between the two countries in a variety of fields.

Regarding Serbian-Azerbaijani economic relations, Tadic said that despite their revitalization over the past year, the existing potential is not being fully used. He said the two governments and relevant organizations "have a great responsibility" to take these relations to a higher level.

In a meeting on the same day with Serbian Parliament Speaker Slavica Dukic-Dejanovic, Minister Mammadyarov termed as "disappointing" the world community’s "unfair stance and policy of double standards" on both the Nagorno Karabakh and Kosovo issues, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan and Serbia’s taking the same stance on the two conflicts as well as other issues of concern would be beneficial for both countries.

Serbian Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic said in a meeting with Mammadyarov that Serbia was interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan chiefly in the energy and oil sectors and the chemicals industry. Cvetkovic suggested that Azerbaijani companies invest in the Serbian economy. He also said his country was seeking to sign a free trade agreement with the South Caucasus republic.

Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said while hosting the minister that Serbia is looking to sign agreements on visa-free travel and on emergency relief with Azerbaijan.

Minister of Labor, Employment, and Social Affairs Rasim Ljajic, for his part, offered to sign agreements on cooperation in the fields of tourism, culture and humanitarian aid.

Mammadyarov left for Montenegro on Wednesday after wrapping up his two-day official visit to Belgrade.