President Aliyev holds several meetings - UPDATE
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev received Masoud Soltanifar, Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and head of Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization, on April 27 in Baku, Azertac reports.
The head of state hailed the high-level representation of the Islamic Republic of Iran at the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, describing this as yet another evidence of the two countries` friendship.
Saying that several high-ranking Iranian officials have recently visited Azerbaijan, President Aliyev recalled with pleasure his recent meeting with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hassan Rouhani in Istanbul. All this attests to the high level of relations between our countries, said the President.
The head of state expressed his confidence that the bilateral ties would continue to develop.
Masoud Soltanifa, in turn, expressed his gratitude for the excellent organization of the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
He said that he paid several visits to Baku, Ganja and other places in Azerbaijan when he was governor of Gilan province.
The Iranian top official said he was impressed by significant development processes that he saw during his current visit to Azerbaijan, and congratulated the head of state on the country`s accomplishments in all areas.
Later, President Aliyev received Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Qatar Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud.
The head of state recalled with pleasure the official visit of Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani to Azerbaijan, and their recent meetings and discussions on the sidelines of the 13th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Istanbul.
President Aliyev hailed Qatar`s attention to the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which is being held in Baku, describing this as a sign of friendly ties between the two countries. The head of state thanked Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud for participating in the forum.
Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud greeted the Azerbaijani President on behalf of Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. The Qatari Deputy Prime Minister thanked President Ilham Aliyev for attention and hospitality shown during the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
Ahmad bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud said he was impressed by Azerbaijan`s development, beauty of Baku and well-planned landscaping in the capital, as well as by high spirits of the people, and congratulated the head of state on this occasion.
On the same day, President Aliyev received former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin.
Saying he was glad to visit Baku again, Dominique de Villepin described the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations as successful.
He said he witnessed development in Azerbaijan despite complicated global economic and political situation. Villepin said he was an old friend of Azerbaijan.
President Aliyev recalled with pleasure his meetings with Dominique de Villepin in Baku and Paris. The head of state stressed the importance of the former French Prime Minister`s attending the Forum.
They emphasized the significance of the issues discussed at the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, and hailed the event`s role in expanding international cooperation.
President Aliyev later received Minister of Culture and Information of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi.
Adel bin Zaid Al-Toraifi extended the greetings and best wishes of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to the head of state. He said he was happy to attend the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations on instructions of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
President Aliyev recalled his official visit to Saudi Arabia one year ago, and hailed hospitality shown by King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to him and his delegation. The head of state described the visit as a sign of robust ties between the two countries.
The president said Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia were close friends and partners, adding that the two countries have always supported each other. The head of state said the high-level representation of Saudi Arabia at the 7th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations was evidence of the importance attached by the Kingdom to the event and a sign of the two countries` friendly ties.
President Aliyev thanked for the greetings of King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and asked the Saudi Minister to extend his greetings and best wishes to King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
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