Azernews.Az

BAKU – President Ilham Aliyev praised Azerbaijan’s ties with the Czech Republic while hosting his Czech counterpart Vaclav Klaus on Tuesday, saying his official visit was "a crucial point" in bilateral relations.

"I am confident that the visit will result in a rapid development of our cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and energy fields," Aliyev said.

He told the press after the meeting that Azerbaijan’s relations with the Czech Republic are developing "in the spirit of very strong partnership". "I am sure that Mr. President’s visit and its outcomes will bolster this partnership, and we will achieve a further development of our partnership and friendship."

Aliyev said Baku highly appreciates the Czech support for the European Union-Azerbaijan partnership. "We are currently participating at the [EU’s] Eastern Partnership, and hope that thanks to this program, the relations between the EU and Azerbaijan will draw closer."

The Azerbaijani leader said further that energy cooperation was part of the agenda of bilateral talks.

"We are delighted that Azerbaijan’s hydrocarbon resources are already supplied to the Czech Republic’s market. And we hope that this cooperation will expand in the coming years. Presently, we are exporting oil, but in the future, cooperation in the gas sector will also become part of bilateral relations, particularly given that a joint declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor was signed by the European Union and Azerbaijan early this year."

President Klaus said that during the one-on-one meeting with President Aliyev all issues between the two countries were resolved.

Klaus said he had long planned a visit to Azerbaijan.

"I decided that if I didn’t pay a visit to this region of the world and this country, my agenda would not be complete. We appreciate the fact that the relations between our countries have been intensifying in the past few years. Visits by a number of officials and businessmen are very good."

The two countries signed three agreements in conclusion of the presidential talks. These included a memorandum on cooperation in standards and metrology, and agreements on exchange and mutual protection of confidential information between the two governments, and on promotion of investments.

President Klaus started his three-day visit to Azerbaijan on Monday. Klaus is expected to visit the country’s northwestern Shaki region and tour the Sangachal oil terminal near Baku.