AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 26 2005
OFFICIAL VISIT OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM
ALIYEV TO THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY AND STATE OF VATICAN
WELCOMING CEREMONY IN VATICAN
[February 26, 2005, 22:46:34]
Visiting Italy President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
arrived February 26 in the State of Vatican, where he was warmly
welcomed by members of the Sacred College of Cardinals, Commander of
the Swiss Guard and other representatives of the Pope of Rome.
After that, the Azerbaijani leader met in private with Cardinal
Secretary of State Angelo Sodano. The Cardinal Secretary of State
conveyed greetings of Pope John Paul II to President Ilham Aliyev
noting the Pope is known worldwide as a friend of all peoples
irrespective of their religious, racial or ethnic belonging.
President Ilham Aliyev, for his part, thanked Cardinal Angelo Sodano
for the hospitality shown to him and the Azerbaijani delegation, and
recalled the meeting of national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev
with Pope John Paul II in 1997, and the Pope’s visit to Azerbaijan.
The Head of State wished Pope John Paul II speedy recovery.
Touching on the relations between the two states, Cardinal Sodano let
the President know that he is going to arrive in Azerbaijan to
participate in the opening of Catholic Church in Baku that is now
under construction.
President Ilham Aliyev told of the reforms being implemented in
Azerbaijan aimed at building a democratic, legal and secular state in
the country.
He also dwelt on the most painful problem of Azerbaijan, the conflict
with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, and its tragic consequences. The
Head of State noted that Armenia’s destructive stance does not allow
to find peaceful solution to the problem, and called on highly
reputable international organizations and the world’s leading states
to intensify their efforts in this direction.
During the conversation, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and
Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano also exchanged views on a
number of other issues of mutual interest.