Azerbaijan, Germany mull bilateral cooperation
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijani and German officials discussed the prospects for cooperation between the two countries.
Chairman of Azerbaijan`s State Committee on Work with Diaspora Nazim Ibrahimov met a delegation of Germany-Azerbaijan Forum in Baku on March 27.
The sides discussed the ways of highlighting Azerbaijan`s realities in Germany and developing the activities of the diaspora in the country.
Ibrahimov voiced the necessity of improving the relations between Azerbaijan and Germany, adding that the visit of Germany-Azerbaijan Forum under the leadership of Hanns-Elbert Schleyer would play an important role in this regard.
He also said the visit would help highlight Azerbaijan`s realities in Germany.
Schleyer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of German-Azerbaijan Forum, stressed the importance of expanding bilateral ties, adding that there was a lack of information about Azerbaijan in the German society.
Saying that his organization`s task was solving that problem, he pointed out that the Forum implements various projects in this regard, giving a recent visit by a group of German journalists to Azerbaijan as an example.
Schleyer also hailed religious tolerance in Azerbaijan, and noted that such facts should be publicized all over the world.
Member of the Forum`s Board of Directors and head of Coordination Centers for Azerbaijanis in Germany Samira Patser-Ismayilova talked about the accomplishments of Azerbaijani diaspora with respect to integration in the German society.
Well-known German journalist and publicist Richard Kessler said serious steps had been taken to raise awareness about Azerbaijan's realities in the German society, adding that a new documentary was shot about Azerbaijan.
Former diplomat Hans-Frederick von Ploetz, another member of the Forum`s Board of Directors, pointed to the role of youth in developing relations between the countries.
Ibrahimov suggested organizing a forum of Azerbaijani and German youth in Berlin.
He also proposed increasing the number of the Azerbaijanis working in the Germany-Azerbaijan Forum.
Germany recognized the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on January, 12 1992, and diplomatic relations were established on February 20, 1992.
Azerbaijan opened its embassy in Germany on September 2, 1992, and Germany opened its embassy in Azerbaijan on September 22, 1992.