Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

The Finnish President has said there was wide potential for developing cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, agriculture and investment between Azerbaijan and Finland.

Sauli Niinistö made remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, who visited Finland on May 14-15.

Mammadyarov, in turn, hoped Finland would join regional energy and transport projects initiated by Azerbaijan.

He provided an insight into the current state of the negotiations to solve the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged in 1988 due to Armenia's territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Mammadyarov stressed the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from Azerbaijan`s occupied lands is the major condition for solving the long-lasting conflict, which poses threat to the regional development and stability.

For over two decades, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in the conflict, which impedes the development of the region, as Armenia continues its policy of aggression.

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.

The UN Security Council's four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal have not been enforced to this day.

During the meeting, President Niinistö expressed his desire to visit Azerbaijan.

Mammadyarov also met Foreign Minister of Finland Erkki Tuomioja in Helsinki.

Mammadyarov noted there were great opportunities for further expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries and stressed the necessity of strengthening a legal framework between Azerbaijan and Finland.

Mammadyarov also met former president of Finland Tarja Halonen.

They exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Finland in various fields.

The sides also discussed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and the current status of the talks to solve the dispute.

Finland recognized independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 30, 1991 and diplomatic relations were established on March 24, 1992.