On September 15, Prime Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received a delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) having arrived on a visit to Azerbaijan.

Having warmly greeted the guests, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev said:

Dear representatives of the Council of Europe,

Dear friends,

I greet you most cordially. Welcome to Azerbaijan!

It is almost three years that Azerbaijan has become a member of the Council of Europe. We have been fruitfully cooperating during these years. Legislature of Azerbaijan has been improved and made to meet European standards. Recommendations of the CE were of great importance for our country and helped us a lot.

At the same time, during these three years, delegation of Azerbaijan was taking an active part in all sessions of the Council of Europe, in work of its commissions and committees. I consider that it was very much useful for Azerbaijan.

Besides, these three years have become a good school for the delegation of Azerbaijan, I believe. We acquainted with problems closer. Moreover, I think, we have contributed to the Council of Europe.

We are happy that the Council of Europe takes an immediate part in settlement of the most complicated problem of Azerbaijan. A special reporter on Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno Karabakh has been appointed and he has started his activity. It makes us happy.

You know that in its official documents, the Council of Europe acknowledged Armenia as aggressor state. It is another evidence of the fact that the Council of Europe takes fair position in this issue. That is why we are grateful to this organization.

Taking this opportunity, I ask you to convey my best wishes and greetings to heads of the Council of Europe - Chairman Mr. Schider, Secretary General Mr. Shwimmer, and Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly Mr. Haller. Besides, I ask Mr. Gross, Bureau member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to convey my greetings to all members of the Bureau and to thank for our joint activities. With a great sense of satisfaction, I recall and will always recall our joint work.

I am sure that the delegation of Azerbaijan will defend national interests of our country in the Council of Europe, will do its best for development of democracy in the country.

Having expressed gratitude for warm welcoming, member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Andreas Gross said:

- Mr. Prime Minister,

Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, our colleague Mr. Ilham Aliyev,

I am happy that on the eve of Presidential elections in Azerbaijan, you are the first contender that we meet.

Mr. Prime Minister, we have arrived in Azerbaijan on acquainting visit on the eve of the Presidential elections. As you know, our delegation consists of representatives of different countries; there is a representative of Turkey, Mr. Cavusoglu, representative of Spain, who you know very well, Mr. Cassan, representative of France Mr. Goulet. We wish that fair and transparent elections were held in Azerbaijan.

So, the elected president will have all rights to pass the most important decisions, related to fate of the country. That is why we are immediately acquainted with this process and interested in fair elections in Azerbaijan.

Further, the parties shared their views on perspectives of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe.

The head of foreign relations department of President’s Office Novruz Mamedov, chairman of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) commission for international and inter-parliamentary relations, member of the delegation of Azerbaijan to PACE Samed Seyidov were present at the meeting.