POLITICS
PAKISTAN SEEKS TO STRENGTHEN TIES WITH AZERBAIJAN, PM GILANI
Baku, July 24 (AZERTAC). Pakistan aspires to further strengthen relationship with Azerbaijan on the basis of historical, cultural and religious ties, country`s Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said at the farewell meeting with ex-ambassador of Azerbaijan Eynulla Madatli, Pakistan`s APP news agency reported.
The Premier said Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize independence of Azerbaijan, adding his country supports Azerbaijan`s stance on the Nagorno-Karabakh problem.
Gilani hailed Azerbaijan`s backing Kashmir issue and thanked the country for the decisive role it played in the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir, towards resolution of the dispute on the basis of UN Security Council resolutions.
Gilani expressed hope the next round of the joint ministerial commission to be held in Baku later this year would allow establishing joint companies in the oil and gas industry as well as agriculture, construction equipment and military fields.
Madatli conveyed President Ilham Aliyev`s best wishes to the Premier and expressed gratitude for Pakistan government`s supporting him during 8 years of his service in Islamabad.
He assured Gilani the Azerbaijan government, for his part, will lend support to joint efforts towards strengthening ties between the two countries in trade, investments.