In the beginning, the heads of state have made statement.

STATEMENT OF LEONID KUCHMA, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE

- Dear Ilham Heydarovich,

Dear Azerbaijan friends!

Ladies and gentlemen!

For me it is a great honor to welcome high delegation of the Azerbaijan Republic led by the President on the Ukrainian land. I am deeply convinced, that time of stay at us will leave the most pleasant impressions. You know, I began today's meeting with You from the words of memory on Heydar Aliyev. I should begin with it because this person has much made for development of the Ukrainian - Azerbaijan friendship. He was always ready to offer a helping hand and did it when Ukraine faced one or other problem. I simply always was given with huge pleasure to communicate with this wise person. You know that there are always a lot of advisers at presidents. And so I would like to emphasize it. We with Ilham Heydarovich had an opportunity to discuss all problems, our bilateral relations, we are glad, that they develop in the line of ascent, and our goods turnover grows, and in all other spheres, including in political, on international arena. And today, you saw by quantity of documents, which have been signed here, in this hall, that we are on a true way. And if to speak simple words we have understanding of all problems, which today exist, and we are adjusted on their sanction both in a bilateral format and in a format of all international organizations. We do not have disagreements in strategic plans for development. I have in a kind both the European way, and cooperation within the framework of the CIS, and cooperation in frameworks of GUUAM, and wide cooperation within the framework of the NATO. Our contingents are today in Iraq, we together carry out there our peace-making duty. We have identical sights at the future of Iraq. They do not miss and from that point of view, that we would like, that the decision of Security Council was as soon as possible adopted, the flag of the United Nations Organization has appeared in Iraq. That the civil government has been more likely generated, and all authority has passed to people of Iraq. Well, we have no other problems. So, from the bottom of my heart once again I want to greet Ilham Heydarovich and to tell that we shall be always glad to see him here. And with this visit we want to emphasize our deep respect and for the Azerbaijan Republic, and for Azerbaijan people. Thanks.

STATEMENT OF ILHAM ALIYEV, PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN

Thanks, dear Leonid Danilovich,

Dear friends!

First of all, I would like to express gratitude to the President of Ukraine Leonid Danilovich Kuchma for the invitation to visit Ukraine with the state visit.

This visit is of great importance for me. The relations between our countries develop very successfully. Between the peoples of Ukraine and Azerbaijan at all times there were kind friendly, brotherly relations. It is very valuable, that after finding independence of our countries these relations became even stronger, even closer. And the huge merit in it belongs to the two well-known leaders who have headed the countries in most maybe the heavy period of their establishment conducted them on the way of progress and economic growth. Due to Leonid Danilovich Kuchma and Heydar Aliyevich Aliyev, our countries began to cooperate both in mutual relations, and within the framework of regional, and in the international organizations even closely, even more actively. Also it is possible to tell with confidence that these relations have acquired the level of strategic partnership. Between us there is the deepest mutual understanding, very active political dialogue and cooperation on all directions. Today, we during the meeting with satisfaction marked, that goods turnover between our countries steadily grows, from year to year increases. It speaks that, first of all, economy of our countries become stronger, and today rates of growth of GDP both in Ukraine, and in Azerbaijan is at the highest level, probably, one of the highest in the world. By way of the further development of economic relations the big work was done by the joint inter-governmental commission, which has planned the important ways of development of economic relations.

In humanitarian sphere, there are very old, strong links, which develop. In Azerbaijan with the big respect concern to the Ukrainian language, and at the Azerbaijan Slavonic University there is a faculty of the Ukrainian language. We very carefully concern to this. In Azerbaijan, all peoples, all nations feel at home, comfortably, and attitude on the part of the government very positive. And it too connects our countries and peoples. We are tolerant.

A plenty of the Azerbaijanis living in Ukraine, feel like as at house. And we know, they are surrounded with what attention on the part of a management and at a political level, and at a household level, and in all affairs. And also I would like to thank Leonid Danilovich and our Ukrainian friends for this.

As Leonid Danilovich has noted, between our countries there are no problems. We are friends, partners. We very actively develop our integration processes; we are integrating into the international structures. Both the weight, and value of Ukraine and Azerbaijan from year to year grow in the international affairs. And it is the most important parameter that our countries successfully develop. I have told Leonid Danilovich that I shall do on my part all that the policy that was pursued in Azerbaijan last 10 years including within the framework of mutual relations, developed.

I am very grateful to Leonid Danilovich for warm words about President Heydar Aliyevich. I personally know, how close you were friends, with what deep feeling of love, sympathy concerned to each other, and in Azerbaijan all knows it. Certainly, your attention and the decision on establishment of the monument to Heydar Aliyev in Ukraine, accepted personally you, once again emphasizes both the level of mutual relations between our countries, and personal, especially human your ties which in the policy play not the latest role.

I am very pleased with the visit, I am very glad to be in Ukraine. I hope, that such visits will be much. From the very beginning I am surrounded with great attention, hospitality, and warm attitude, and I am very grateful for all this, first of all, to the President, and also all our Ukrainian friends. Thanks.

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Then, the heads of state have answered questions of journalists. Answering on one of questions, President Leonid Kuchma has stated that now 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan is under occupation, hundred thousand people are refugees and IDPs. This conflict should be settled by peace way and only under condition of maintenance of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Time works to Azerbaijan.