JOINT STATEMENT CONNECTED WITH OFFICIAL VISIT OF ALIYEV TO THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA, AUGUST 28-29, 2006

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug. 31, 2006

Official visit of the President of the Azerbaijan Republic to the
Republic of Slovenia pursued the purpose of development of relations
between two states in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian
spheres.

Both sides have noted importance of development of political dialogue
at the highest level and necessity of strengthening of cooperation
between legislative and executive authorities of the countries,
expansion of legal base for achievement of higher level of present
contacts between the states, and have once again emphasized intention
of all-around development of mutual relations in all fields.

The sides came to the arrangement on strengthening of the relations
all areas of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Slovenia. The
special attention will be given in this connection to development of
cooperation in questions of economy, trade, tourism, communications,
public health services, science, education, culture, environment
and humanitarian questions. Azerbaijan and Slovenia will continue
development of conditions for business cooperation.

The sides agreed on realization of wider cooperation at practical
level and have expressed adherence to the idea of setting up of the
Azerbaijani-Slovenian Economic Commission. The Slovenian side has
especially emphasized importance of economic reforms in the Azerbaijan
Republic and welcomed the progress reached by Azerbaijan in realization
of mentioned reforms.

Both sides have emphasized support of the admission of Azerbaijan by
Slovenia to the European Neighborhood Policy and have noted positive
influence of the given policy on process of the further rapprochement
of Azerbaijan with the European structures. They also have expressed
support for quick correlation of all three states of Southern Caucasus
to the European Neighborhood Policy. The European Neighborhood Policy
defines the global purposes, based on common values as sovereignty,
territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of each state
recognized at the international level. It also includes norms and
principles of the international and European law, mutual obligations
of the European Union, the states-participants and Azerbaijan on
such principles, as support of effective realization of political,
economic and institutional reforms.

Azerbaijan and Slovenia will continue strengthening the relations
directed on creation of good opportunities for more detailed
consultations to expand contacts with the European Union and NATO. In
this connection, Azerbaijan welcomed the initiative of Slovenia to
give recommendations based on own experience, as a member of the
European Union and NATO, and process of integration into the European
and Euro-Atlantic structures.

Taking into account the intention to carry out fruitful cooperation
between the states during presidency of Slovenia in the European
Union in 2008, as it was during its presidency in OSCE in 2005,
the sides have emphasized that would attach special significance to
mutual cooperation and joint activity with a view of maintenance of
international peace and stability in regional, European and global
level.

Referring to long efforts in the frame of OSCE in the cause of peace
settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict,
including activity of the Minsk Group, the parties have once again
declared importance of acceptance of more substantial and drastic
measures in this area.

The parties have noted growing value of energy safety of the Europe and
have expressed support to development of projects of diversification
of lines of power supply leading to Europe and transportation of
energy carriers to connect the Caspian basin resources with the power
network of the Europe. Both sides have noted value of opening and
operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, and importance
of realization of the projects of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas main and
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway.

The parties agreed on importance of dialogue between religions and
have stated the positions in connection with development of contacts
and mutual understanding between Christian, Islamic and other cultures
and civilizations with the purpose of creation of necessary conditions
to establish in harmonious form peace, freedom, the rights and justice.