Azernews.Az

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with President of the Republic of Malta Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca in Baku on April 26.

President Aliyev thanked President Preca for her participation in the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Baku. The head of state also described this visit as a good opportunity for discussing the bilateral relations, adding the ties between the two countries were developing.

President Aliyev noted that areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Malta were based on mutual interest. Noting that Azerbaijan successfully hosts such prestigious international events, the head of state expressed hope that the visit of Madame President to Baku would be fruitful.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception and hospitality, the Maltese president highlighted the importance and the high-level organization of the Forum, and hailed President Aliyev`s speech at the opening ceremony.

Stressing the importance of reciprocal visits in terms of developing the bilateral ties, the Maltese president also touched upon prospects for fruitful cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, trade, tourism and other areas.

They exchanged views over the relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Later, President Aliyev met with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo.

Garcia-Margallo recalled his previous visits to Azerbaijan.

President Aliyev stressed the successful activity of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which was established on the joint initiative of Turkey and Spain, and hailed Spain`s support for the Alliance.

The head of state described the Minister`s participation in the Baku forum as an example of this support.

They noted the importance of the Forum in discussing outstanding tasks in complicated international situation and against the background of international relations. The sides expressed confidence that this important event would give a strong positive message to the international community.

During the conversation, the parties exchanged views over Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation, and the ways of settling the Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

President Aliyev also met with Minister of State for European Affairs of France Harlem Desir.

Desir conveyed French President Francois Hollande`s greetings and good memories about Azerbaijan to the head of state.

President Aliyev thanked for the greetings of President Francois Hollande, and asked the Minister of State to extend his greetings to the French President.

Recalling that President Hollande visited Azerbaijan twice, President Aliyev said this demonstrates the high-level of relations between the two countries.

President Aliyev thanked Harlem Desir for his participation in the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations in Baku, adding the visit was a good opportunity for discussing the bilateral and regional issues.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, the French Minister of State for European Affairs congratulated President Aliyev on the excellent organization of the Forum.

They had a broad exchange of views over the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the latest processes.