Azernews.Az

By Nazrin Gadimova

During a meeting between Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and a delegation of Spanish parliamentarians, the two sides discussed possible ways to boost bilateral relations between the two countries.

The meeting, which was held on February 6, discussed prospects for developing bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural, agricultural, sport, and educational fields.

Addressing the meeting, Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan shows a particular attention to expanding its relationship with Spain and stressed on the importance of increasing the number of high-level reciprocal visits, and expanding the interparliamentary cooperation.

The foreign minister also informed the Spanish delegation about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying Armenia still continued to ignore the resolutions of international organizations, particularly four resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Head of the Spanish delegation Jose Maria Chikio, in turn, said they were aware of Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan, including the Khojaly genocide and the problems of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs.

He expressed regret over the fact that the resolutions of the international organizations demanding an unconditional and immediate withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan's occupied lands had not yet been fulfilled.

On the same day, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ziyafat Asgarov met members of the Spain-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group to discuss relations between the two countries' legislative bodies.

Asgarov hailed bilateral relations, adding that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to developing relations with Spain.

He said there is "great potential" for the expansion of Azerbaijani-Spanish cooperation not only in energy field, but also in non-oil sector. He further spoke about the importance of building a legal base for development of bilateral ties.

"We have signed three documents so far, and work continues on ten new documents," he said.

Asgarov also highlighted the causes and consequences of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Chikio, in turn, hailed democratic development in Azerbaijan, saying some of the members of the delegation monitored Azerbaijan's parliamentary and presidential elections in 2010 and 2013.

Spain recognized Azerbaijan's independence in December 1991. Diplomatic relations were established in February 1992.

The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about $158.4 million in 2012.

Earlier Azerbaijan's embassy in Spain initiated the establishment of a joint chamber of commerce with aims to increase the trade turnover between the two countries, to attract Spanish companies to Azerbaijan, take Azerbaijani goods to the Spanish market, to organize mutual business forums, trade and investment missions, and to organize other events to promote bilateral cooperation.