Azerbaijan’s security policy discussed in Prague
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan's security policy in term of peace and regional stability was a matter of discussion in Czech Republic.
A conference titled "Azerbaijan`s security policy as a factor of peace and regional stability" was held in Prague by Azerbaijani Embassy to the Czech Republic, AzerTag news agency reported.
The conference was organized by the Security Studies at Charles University with the support of the Council of State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations under the President of Azerbaijan.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the House of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Head of Azerbaijani-Czech inter-parliamentary Friendship Group Yan Hamachek highlighted the political, economic and diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Praising cooperation between the two countries, Hamachek said Azerbaijan was a main strategic partner for the Czech Republic in the region.
Azerbaijani ambassador to Czech Republic Tahir Tagizade provided an insight into the successes of the country after gaining independence, as well as the progress achieved by both countries for further developing the current relations.
He thanked Hamachek as the Chairman of the House of Deputies of the Czech Republic, Head of Azerbaijani-Czech inter-parliamentary Friendship Group for his contributions to development of relations between the two countries.
Tagizade also briefed the participants on Azerbaijan's relations with the EU, as well as energy policy, the country`s support in ensuring the security over the world, as well as the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The participants discussed the role of Azerbaijan in the fields of politics, economy and security, partnership with the EU, the country`s role in energy security of Europe.
The conference saw a speech by Vice-rector of "ADA" University Fariz Ismayilzade.
The event brought together officials of the two country's Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry and Trade of Czech Republic, representatives of the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Azerbaijan.
The Czech Republic (until 31st December, 1992 Czechoslovak Republic) recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on January 8, 1992. Two countries established diplomatic relations on January 29, 1993. Azerbaijan Parliament passed the law on the establishing Azerbaijan embassy in Czech Republic on March 11, 2005.
The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic amounted to $305.03 million in 2013, most of which ($215.92 million) fell to the imports of Azerbaijani goods, according to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee.
The country imported goods worth $89.11 million from the Czech Republic in 2013. As of the first quarter of this year, the trade turnover between the two countries reached $86.58 million taking into account the exports worth $76.54 million from Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic and imports of Czech goods worth $10.04 million.