On 17 February, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received at the “Ulduz” Palace the credentials of the newly appointed ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Azerbaijan Mr. Lawrence Bristow.

Presenting his credentials to the president of Azerbaijan, Ambassador Lawrence Bristow said: “Your Excellency Mr. President, permit me to present You the credentials on my appointment as a new ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Azerbaijan.

Permit me also to hand over You the letter on recall of my predecessor Andrew Taker.

It is great honor, I am glad to represent the Great Britain in Your Country. We keen in further development of the relations between Azerbaijan and Great Britain on the ground of democracy and rule of law.

Your late father President Heydar Aliyev had invaluable contributions in the integration of Azerbaijan, as an independent state, in Europe. I would like to stress that the British companies play a leading role in cooperation for the interests of our peoples. Our key goal is the further political-economic and social development of Your country. In the coming years I am to achieve much more development of our links.

Addressing the Ambassador, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said: “Dear Mr. Ambassador,

I congratulate you on the appointment as the ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Azerbaijan. I am certain that your activity in Azerbaijan would be more successful in rapprochement of our countries.

Current relations between Great Britain and Azerbaijan are at high level. For long years, we cooperate successfully in the political-economic and other spheres. It is not a secret that the British companies play an extremely leading role in development of economic potential of Azerbaijan. They have invested colossal means in the economy of Azerbaijan and integrate to the Azerbaijani society. We are pleased with this

I am sure that the coming large-scale projects with great importance for the region will be also successfully realized and in this way, our economic links will strengthen.

Along with this, as you noted, we need support of Great Britain in the integration of Azerbaijan to the European structures. We constantly feel this support, and Azerbaijan as an independent state always relied on your country in this field. I am very pleased with the high level of our bilateral relations and want to express my confidence for further deepening and expansion of these relations.

I am sure that you will make every effort to strengthen these relations. I once again congratulate you and wish you success in your activity in Azerbaijan.

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President Ilham Aliyev and Ambassador Lawrence Bristow were taken their photos for memory.

Then, President of Azerbaijan and the Ambassador had a warm conversation.

Foreign minister of Azerbaijan Vilayat Guliyev, head of the foreign relations department of president Office Novruz Mammadov took part at the reception.