BAKU: Aliyev receives credentials from newly appointed German Amb.

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Feb 23 2005

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES CREDENTIALS FROM NEWLY
APPOINTED AMBASSADOR OF GERMANY
[February 22, 2005, 22:59:43]

On February 22, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
received credentials from newly appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary
and Extraordinary of the Federative Republic of Germany to Azerbaijan
Detlef Lingemann.

Noting he was pleased to start diplomatic activity in Azerbaijan,
Ambassador Lingemann said in particular that he considered this
appointment as a high award and a great responsibility.

He recalled the summer 2004 visit by President Ilham Aliyev to
Germany, which according to him has allowed to raise bilateral
relations between the two countries up to a new level.

During that visit, Your Excellency and Mr. Federal Chancellor
discussed concrete possibilities of economic cooperation, and in
order to intensify economic links, you agreed to hold a conference in
Berlin in spring this year with involvement of representatives of
Azerbaijan and Germany, and I think it is very important for the
conference to be successful, he said.

The diplomat also said that over the past year the Government of
Germany had provide considerable financial assistance for development
of Azerbaijan, and supporting democratic reforms in the country. I
will do my best for continuation of this cooperation, and this also
concerns the reforms you are implementing for Azerbaijan’s
integration into the Euroatlantic structures, he said.

Noting that unresolved conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over
Nagorno-Karabakh impedes ensuring security and economic development
in the region, Mr. Detlef Lingemann said that Germany is absolutely
sure that the problem would be solved only peacefully, in the
framework of the principles of UN and OSCE. Germany welcomes
continuation of the Prague process, and is always ready to continue
its mediating efforts under the OSCE.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Ambassador the
Federative Republic of Germany on the start up of his diplomatic
mission in Azerbaijan, and expressed satisfaction with successful
development of Azerbaijan-Germany cooperation in political, economic
humanitarian and other spheres.

He expressed confidence that his official visit to the Federative
Republic of Germany, and meetings and negotiations held there had
brought our countries closer, and given a powerful impetus to our
cooperation. Meetings with President, Federal Chancellor, Foreign
Minister and other German officials made me again confident that
future of our cooperation is as fine as its present, the President
said.

President of Azerbaijan also expressed satisfaction with Germany’s
support with respect to Azerbaijan’s integration into Euroatlantic
structures, and highly valued the country’s efforts to contribute to
peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict. We see the resolution of this conflict only on the base of
the principles of international law, territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan must be restored, over million refugees and displaced
people who suffered from ethnic cleansing, must return to their
homelands, President Ilham Aliyev said.

***

Afterwards, Ambassador Detlef Lingemann presented his credentials to
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The ceremony was attended by Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar
Mammadyarov and Head of the International Relations Department of the
President’s Administration Novruz Mammadov.