Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
March 20 2004

VISIT OF AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV TO SLOVAKIA

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV MET EU COMMISSIONER
[March 19, 2004, 22:15:56]

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met the European Union
commissioner Gunter Verhogen in Bratislava, 19 March, AzerTAj
correspondent reports.

The EU commissioner congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on election
as the head of state and wished success in his responsible activity.

President Ilham Aliyev spoke in detail on the reforms Azerbaijan
conducted especially last years after regaining its state
independence, noting that these accomplishments in the path of
development of democracy and market relations were possible thanks to
stability established in the Country.

Head of the Azerbaijani state noted that the relations with the
European Union are high level, and the Organization renders to the
Country assistance, makes efforts for settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorny Karabakh conflict, and assessed the
appointment of EU special representative for South Caucasus as
strengthening of its activity in the region.

Noting the developing relations between Azerbaijan and European
Union, Mr. Gunter Verhoen underlined that the work of the Commission
set up in connection with the strategic document on joining the
initiative `Enlarged Europe: New Agenda’ by the South Caucasus
countries would finalize shortly.

He also stressed that the European Union has intensified its efforts
for peaceful settlement of the Armenian -Azerbaijani Nagorny Karabakh
conflict and he would recently visit Baku.