Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan and Austria are launching a new stage in their rapidly developing relations, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said while hosting his Austrian counterpart Heinz Fischer in Baku on Wednesday.

President Aliyev said the two countries share economic interests. He said "good results" have been achieved in the field of culture as well.

"I believe that we can be satisfied with the level of our cooperation. Certainly, your visit will further strengthen these ties, and I hope that this will yield very good results," Aliyev said.

President Fischer, who is paying his first visit to Azerbaijan, said the country has seen rampant growth in the past ten years. He praised the fact that the South Caucasus republic has taken "big steps" in terms of the pace of development.

Following the presidents’ meeting, three documents were signed in their presence, including a Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of energy projects between Azerbaijani state oil company Socar and Austrian OMV.

Also, an MoU on cooperation in innovations and the ICT sector was inked between the Azerbaijani communications ministry and the Austrian ministry for transport, innovations and technologies.

The two countries also put pen to a cooperation agreement between Krems Applied Sciences University and Azerbaijan Tourism Institute.

The Austrian president told a joint news conference after the signing that he had arrived in Azerbaijan with a large delegation, which indicates the great importance Austria attaches to the country.

Fischer noted that Austria was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan.

On bilateral energy cooperation, he said European energy security was "in good hands".

"The implementation of various projects in this area is a great groundwork, and today’s negotiations [with President Aliyev] once again showed that Azerbaijan is making a tremendous contribution to the relations in this field," Fischer said.

The Azerbaijani leader said bilateral economic cooperation is developing in a variety of fields, noting that 40 Austrian companies are operating in his country.

Aliyev stressed the importance of the declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor signed by Azerbaijan and the European Union early this year in Baku. The Southern Gas Corridor includes a slew of ambitious EU-backed pipeline projects that will diversify sources of energy for European countries.

The president said Azerbaijan’s proven gas reserves amount to 2.6 trillion cubic meters, which will contribute to closer gas cooperation with the EU.

Aliyev further said he had briefed his Austrian counterpart on the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. He emphasized that despite relevant resolutions passed by the United Nations and other international organizations, Armenia continues to adhere to a non-constructive stance on the conflict settlement.

The president voiced hope that the long-standing conflict will find its solution soon and Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity will be restored.

President Fischer stressed the importance of a peaceful settlement.

The Karabakh conflict emerged during the last few years of the Soviet Union. 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territory, including Nagorno Karabakh, has been under Armenian occupation since the two South Caucasus republics signed a precarious cease-fire in 1994 following a lengthy war. Over a decade of efforts by US, Russian and French mediators have been largely fruitless so far.

Presidents Aliyev and Fischer also attended the opening of a monument to great Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Baku. The bronze monument is 3.85 meters tall.

Fischer wrapped up his visit to Azerbaijan late on Wednesday.