BAKU: Presidents Of Azerbaijan And Korea Meet In Presence OfDelegati

PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND KOREA MEET IN PRESENCE OF DELEGATIONS

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
May 11 2006

The one-on-one meeting of Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and
Roh Moo-hyun of Korea was continued in presence of the two countries’
delegations.

Greeting once again visiting President Rooh Moo-hyun and members of
his delegation, the Azerbaijani leader expressed confidence that the
visit would contribute to development of bilateral relations in various
fields. “At the meetings we are going to have today and tomorrow, we’ll
have the opportunity to discuss issues of bilateral relations. I am
sure that after this visit, our relations with the Republic of Korea
will be more intensively developed in all spheres,” he said.

Korean President Roh Moo-hyun first expressed deep gratitude to
the President and people of Azerbaijan for the hospitality shown to
him and his delegation. “I am the first President of the Republic
of Korea to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan since our counties
established diplomatic relations. Today’s political and economic
development of Azerbaijan creates additional opportunities to enhance
our cooperation. Both countries’ potential is huge, and must be used
in full measure. This is why I am accompanied by four ministers. Mr.

President, taking this chance, I would like to invite you and your
ministers to our country,” he said.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked his Korean counterpart for the
invitation, and said: “You came to Azerbaijan with so representative
delegation. I share your opinion that the huge economic potential of
the two countries will serve development of our bilateral relations.”

He noted that Azerbaijan is already capable to make investments itself,
and stressed the necessity of taking advantage of not only Korean
investment opportunities but also the country’s personnel potential
and experience in economic sphere.

President Roh Moo-hyun pointed to importance of restoration of the
historic Silk Road and other transport corridors, noting that his
country is interested in the global projects being implemented in
the region, as well as in opening of an embassy in Baku.

President Ilham Aliyev noted in his turn that Azerbaijan’s rich natural
resources, the global energy projects implemented in the country and
the attention paid to the non-oil sector and regional development on
the one hand, and high technology and great experience of the Republic
of Korea on the other hand, could balance trade relations between
the two countries. “They (relations) do not meet today’s potential;
there are great opportunities for their expanding,” he said.

The Azerbaijani leader also highly appreciated the Republic of
Korea’s position with regard to settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan,
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

President Roh Moo-hyun said Korea will continue the international
and regional cooperation with Azerbaijan and to support its fair
position in the conflict. He also expressed his county’s readiness to
cooperation with Azerbaijan in the fields of air transport, sea ports
construction and applying high technology in chemical and engineering
industries.