Trend, Azerbaijan
July 9 2009

UAE diplomatic mission to be opened in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, July 9 / Trend News, E.Ostapenko / Diplomatic
mission of United Arab Emirates will soon be opened in Azerbaijan, UAE
Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said on July 9.

On July 9, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov received UAE
Foreign Minister in Baku.

Sheikh appreciated the development of Azerbaijan and stressed that the
UAE is interested in developing relations with Azerbaijan.

UAE is most interested in developing economic relations with
Azerbaijan, amongst which the priority is petrochemical industry and
tourism, said Al Nahyan.

Touching upon Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the
guest said that his country supports the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied
territories, as well as solution to this problem through peaceful
dialogue.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister highly evaluated the current state of
relations between the two countries and noted that the positions of
Azerbaijan and the UAE coincide on many international issues.

He also thanked Al Nahyan for supporting the position of Azerbaijan on
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding
districts. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in
1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group – Russia, France, and the
U.S. – are currently holding the peace negotiations.

Mammadyarov stressed the importance of bilateral relations and
exchange of young diplomats.

The meeting also focused on other bilateral, regional and global
topics that affect the interests of both countries.