AZERI TOP DIPLOMAT HOLDS MEETINGS IN QATAR
Baku, January 13 (AZERTAC). Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov visited Qatar on January 11-12 where he met country`s Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
The Emir expressed his satisfaction with the fact that he has friendly relationship with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.
He underlined the necessity of using existing opportunities to boost cooperation between Qatar and Azerbaijan.
The Emir also stressed the importance of carrying out mutual investment projects in oil and gas sector, as well as opening air route between the two countries.
Mammadyarov, in his turn, extended greetings of President Ilham Aliyev to the Emir. He recalled the Azerbaijani leader`s visit to Doha in 2004 and a trip by the Qatari Emir to Baku in 2007, saying they will contributed to enhancing bilateral relationship even more.
The Minister also underscored the importance of expanding bilateral humanitarian and cultural cooperation.
Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov thanked the government of Qatar for supporting Azerbaijan`s position on the issue.
He said Armenia must quit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in order to achieve progress in settlement of the dispute.
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani said his country backs Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity. He added resolution of the conflict could yield positive results for the entire region, in particular for Armenia.
The Emir also asked Mammadyarov to convey his greetings to President Ilham Aliyev.
The sides also discussed the situation in the Middle East and Qatar`s role in ensuring regional security.
Mammadyarov also met Qatari Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber.
They said friendly relations between the Azerbaijani and Qatari leaders contribute to developing bilateral political dialogue.
The sides also stressed the importance of expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries.
The importance of signing the agreement on visa-free travel for persons having diplomatic and special passports was stressed at the meeting.
Discussions also revolved around processes in the oil and gas markets, Azerbaijan`s diverting oil revenues into economic, infrastructure projects as well as social welfare programs.
Minister Mammadyarov also conferred with Qatar`s Minister of State for International Cooperation and Acting Minister of Business and Trade Khalid bin Mohammad Al-Attiyah
The sides emphasized the importance of implementing concrete projects in a variety of fields to develop bilateral relations even more. Both countries` officials agreed on student exchange between Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and Qatar`s diplomacy and international relations universities. The issues discussed at the meeting included energy, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Middle East problem.
Foreign Minister met with Qatari Minister of Economy and Finance Yousuf Hussein Kamal to discuss current state of relationship in a variety of fields and steps to expand existing cooperation.
The sides also shared their views on the economic situation of Azerbaijan and Qatar, energy policy and ways of utilizing oil revenues.
Minister Mammadyarov met with Chairman of Qatar Media Corporation Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani.
Foreign Minister briefed Al Thani about Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, transportation of Caspian energy resources to the world markets.
Qatar`s capacity to disseminate information about Azerbaijan in the Middle and Near East was highlighted given a number of world`s influential media outlets are based in Doha.
Mammadyarov was interviewed by Al-Jazeera TV, one of world`s biggest media companies, at its headquarters in Doha. Moreover, the Minister also gave an interview to Qatar`s Al-Rayah newspaper. In both interviews, Minister told of Azerbaijan-Qatar cooperation, priorities of Azerbaijan`s foreign policy, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, oil strategy, regional energy projects and unveiled country`s stance on the Mid-East problem.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov got familiar with the activity of Qatar Diar investment company and its projects.
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