Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Azerbaijan and Mozambique discussed ways to develop bilateral ties in different spheres of politics, economy, culture, education, and energy.

Azerbaijani Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov met his Mozambican counterpart Oldemiro Baloi as part of his first official visit to the South African region.

Mammadyarov provided an insight into the history and current state of talks to settle the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding as a result of the conflict 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands were occupied by Armenia.

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict emerged in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since a lengthy war in the early 1990s that displaced over one million Azerbaijanis, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions.

But, Armenia still refusing to honor the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the settlement of the dispute, and continues occupation of Azerbaijan's lands, Mammadyarov noted.

Mammadyarov also said Azerbaijan is ready for training Mozambican experts in the field of oil and gas.

He invited Mozambican counterpart Baloi to visit Azerbaijan.

Baloi, in turn, stressed the special political importance of Mammadyarov's visit to the South African region and Mozambique.

He said there were ample opportunities for developing bilateral cooperation with Azerbaijan.

Baloi further said his country was interested in participation of Azerbaijani companies in Mozambican infrastructure projects.

Also during the visit, Mammadyarov met with Mozambican Minister of Natural Resources Salvador Namburette.

Speaking about Azerbaijan's economic development and successful energy strategy, Mammadyarov provided detailed information on the valuable experience of Azerbaijan in the sphere of exploitation, processing and production of energy resources.

He also noted the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the energy sector. He highlighted the importance of establishing a legal framework for the development of relations.

Prior to his visit to Mozambique, Mammadyarov visited South African Republic.

Azerbaijan and South African Republic have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Regular Diplomatic Consultations.

Mammadyarov met with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South African Republic Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and discussed how to develop cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics, economy, culture and energy.

Mammadyarov also met with South African Energy Minister Dikobe Ben Martins.

Azerbaijan is ready to share its experience in energy sector with South Africa, he added.

He said Azerbaijan International Development Agency organized courses for energy experts from South Africa, saying such programs would be continued.

Ben Martins described as successful visits by experts of South African Energy Ministry to Azerbaijan in 2012 and 2013.

He said there were ample opportunities for developing the Azerbaijan-South Africa cooperation in the field of energy.