Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Oct 7 2004

STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV
[October 07, 2004, 13:51:20]

Dear Mr. President,

Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Dear Mr. President, once again I welcome You in Azerbaijan.

Official visit of President of the Republic of Bulgaria Mr. Parvanov
represents great value to Azerbaijan. We with deep impatience waited
for this visit. And are very glad, that visit passes successfully.
The negotiations carried out by us once again testify that relations
between two countries develop and our links become stronger. I am
convinced that after the current visit, our cooperation in the field
of politics, economy, culture and all other spheres becomes even
stronger.

>From the political point of view, our countries are very close to
each other. We successfully integrate into the European and
Euro-Atlantic structures, and in this sense, our mutual relations
develop also in positive direction. Bulgaria as chairman of OSCE
plays extremely active role in settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorny Karabakh conflict, and we are very glad that as a result of
this activity during negotiations there can be new motions.

Great potential exists and in economic sphere, however, it is
involved not completely. But I hope, that after present visit
economic relations between our countries will develop.

Session of the intergovernmental joint commission has been carried
out, and the decision on creation of working group adopted. I hope
that due to activity of the Commission, and also negotiations of the
numerous Bulgarian businessmen who have arrived today in Azerbaijan
with the Azerbaijan colleagues, we can achieve great successes and in
the field of economy.

The economy of Bulgaria and Azerbaijan promptly and dynamically
develops. Certainly, the economic potential in process of
strengthening will allow us to achieve further acceleration of
economic relations between two countries and will bring big advantage
to both sides. I hope that activity of embassy of Azerbaijan, which
will shortly open in Bulgaria, also will bring in great contribution
to our common cause.

I want to note that our negotiations as in private, and in the
expanded structure, have passed in very warm conditions. We have
discussed wide enough spectrum of questions. And have discussed
mutual relations, questions of regional cooperation and, certainly,
had exchange of views on the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh
conflict. It is very glad, that fine relations developed between us,
sincerity will allow us to achieve a new level of relations between
our countries.

Dear Mr. President, once again I welcome You in Azerbaijan. I am
certain that the successfully begun present visit as successfully and
will end. Due to your visit, two countries become even closer to each
other.