Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Energy-rich Azerbaijan, which rests on the shores of the Caspian Sea, and Montenegro, which lays in the Balkans, strengthened bonds by clinching new agreements on bilateral cooperation.

The two countries have significantly expanded relations by signing agreements on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs affairs and protection of environment this week.

The deals between the Azerbaijani and Montenegrin governments took place as part of a visit by Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Dukanovic’s to Baku on October 27.

The agreement on customs cooperation and mutual assistance was signed by Azerbaijani Chairman of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev and Montenegrin Economy Minister Vladimir Kavaric.

The intergovernmental agreement on the environment was signed by Azerbaijan’s Ecology and Natural Resources Minister Huseyngulu Bahirov and Montenegrin Sustainable Development and Tourism Minister Branimir Gvozdenović.

Despite the fact that relations between the countries had been established not so long ago, the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Montenegro has begun to develop faster recently.

President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by Dukanovic on October 27. The sides voiced confidence that the relations would continue developing in all areas, including in the political and economic spheres.

President Aliyev noted that the development of cooperation in investments, energy security, business and other areas is also of great importance.

Dukanovic described the importance attached by President Aliyev to relations with Montenegro as a manifestation of the friendly attitude to his country.

The sides exchanged views over the development of relations in the fields of energy, cooperation within Southern Gas Corridor project, transport, infrastructure and tourism.

Azerbaijan`s Prime Minister Artur Rasizade hailed relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro, particularly with respect to political ties.

He also noted the ongoing work to ensure the further expansion of the economic cooperation.

Rasizade further spoke of Azerbaijan`s economic development and the country’s strides in boosting the non-oil sector.

He also touched upon the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged in 1988 after Armenia’s illegal territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Rasizade said the dispute still remains unsolved because of the non-constructive position of Armenia, which “is not quitting its policy of aggression”.

Armenia occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions, after laying territorial claims against its South Caucasus neighbor, causing a lengthy war in the early 1990s. Armenia so far has ignored the UN Security Council-adopted four resolutions for the immediate withdrawal of its forces from the Azerbaijani territory.

Rasizade noted that the problem must be settled within international legal norms, the principles of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Azerbaijan’s borders.

Dukanovic, for his part, hailed Azerbaijan`s implementation of large scale projects in Montenegro, saying “these projects will push the development of our bilateral cooperation”.

Minister of Economy and Industry Shahin Mustafayev also discussed with the Montenegrin premier prospects of economic cooperation.

Mustafayev spoke about the role of the joint intergovernmental commission on the development of these ties. The center for cultural and economic relations "AzMont" was formed in 2011 and it performs the function of representing the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation.

They discussed cooperation with AZPROMO and boosting bonds in the ICT and energy fields.

SOCAR President Rovnag Abdullayev, who also took part in the meeting, highlighted the Southern Gas Corridor project, which will transport the country’s gas from the Shah Deniz-2 field to Europe.

Dukanovic, in turn, expressed his country’s interest in boosting the Trans-Adriatic pipeline project and delivering Azerbaijani gas to Montenegro via TAP. He also underlined the importance in establishing a gas network of SOCAR in Albania.

SOCAR was earlier reported to build a modern resort and hotel complex in place of an abandoned navy base in the Bay of Kotor. For this purpose, Azerbaijan started the $500 million investment project in Montenegro in 2013, which is scheduled to be finished by 2016, according to reports.

Azerbaijan recognized Montenegro’s independence on July 24, 2006. The protocol regarding the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Montenegro was signed in 2008.

Earlier in April 2014, Baku hosted a business meeting between Azerbaijan and Montenegro, which brought together businessmen from industry, agriculture, food industry, tourism and construction sectors to discuss the prospects of bilateral cooperation between the countries.