Baku, September 16 (AZERTAC). An official reception was hosted Friday on behalf of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in honor of President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović.

Speaking at the event President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Dear Mr. President!

Distinguished guests!

I would like to welcome you to Azerbaijan again!

Today, Azerbaijani-Montenegrin relations are marking a significant event. The first official visit of the President of Montenegro to our country is being paid. I am very pleased that your visit has been very successful. I am confident that this visit will produce very good results.

We have discussed practically the entire spectrum of our bilateral relations, there are no disagreements between us. We, both the Montenegrin and Azerbaijani sides, are interested in further developing our ties and enhancing the mutual sympathy between our two nations.

The processes taking place in the political, economic and cultural spheres today show that our relations have a very good future. Your visit will give our political ties a very strong impetus. I am sure that the documents signed in the economic sphere and the exchange of views we have held will yield good results in the near future. We have also discussed investment opportunities, there are good prospects in the fields of tourism and culture. At the same time, there are good opportunities in the energy, oil and gas, and transport sectors. Of course, all these issues show how broad our bilateral relations are. But at the same time, I think we should pay great attention to contacts between people. Citizens of our countries should be closer to each other because our countries have a similar history. Both your country and ours were once part of other states. The history of our independence is not too long. But both our countries have come a very long and successful path of development in the years of independence. And both countries are optimistic of the future. Representatives of various nationalities and religions live in an atmosphere of friendship, like one family, both in Montenegro and Azerbaijan, and this factor also unites our country.

Dear Mr. President, I want to point out again that we are attaching great importance to your visit. I am very pleased that during this visit you have had the opportunity to get acquainted with our country. This is your first visit, but I am sure that there will be more mutual visits in future.

I raise this glass to your health, to your people!

Thank you.

x x x

Thanking the President of Azerbaijan for the invitation to pay an official visit to our country, President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović recalled the merits of nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev. He said that the biography of the great leader played an important part in the history and destiny of the Azerbaijani people. He noted that it was in the years of Heydar Aliyev`s leadership in Azerbaijan that the country further strengthened its independence and became a developing country.

Filip Vujanović said the two countries had a lot in common, that Azerbaijan and Montenegro were successfully advancing along the path of independence, leaving a great legacy for future generations. “I am very glad that we have laid the foundation of a new stage between our countries,” Filip Vujanović said and added that Azerbaijan and Montenegro have been cooperating successfully in many areas and that the documents signed during the visit would create a good basis for the development of relations. “Montenegro wants Azerbaijani investors to actively participate in our country`s investment environment,” Filip Vujanović said, pointing at favorable opportunities for cooperation in the tourism sector. 

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