President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on 27 July at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs met heads of the diplomatic missions of Azerbaijan functioning in the foreign countries.

Head of state looked through the monument erected to the national leader of Azerbaijan people Heydar Aliyev at the foyer of the Ministry.

Foreign minister Elmar Mammadyarov opened the meeting.

Noting that national leader of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev has determined the priorities of foreign policy of Azerbaijan Republic the foreign minister said that concrete and consecutive works should be carried out in this direction.

He also noted that the law of Azerbaijan Republic “On diplomatic service” adopted on 8 July 2001 regulates activity of the foreign ministry and promotes execution of state’s foreign policy determined by President Ilham Aliyev.

Then, the foreign minister cited as example that currently Azerbaijan has established diplomatic relations with 156 countries. 26 embassies and 16 international representations are functioning in Baku, the Minister said. Azerbaijan has 21 embassies, 5 permanent representations, 2 consulate generals and 2 honorary consulates abroad. Foreign missions are expected to be opened recently in Bulgaria, Belarus, Indonesia, Kuwait, Canada, Latvia, India, Hungary, Japan and Greece.

Azerbaijan is a member of 44 international and regional organizations. 22 Azerbaijanis work at these organizations. Azerbaijan has joined 250 conventions, the Minister stressed.

Mr. Mammadyarov further noted that it is Azerbaijani diplomatic missions that are realizing the country’s foreign policy, and named among their most important duties intensification of their activities towards fear solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, reinforcing the fight against anti-Azerbaijani people propaganda pursued by the Armenians, continuation of rendering humanitarian assistance to refugees and internally displaced people, tracking the Azerbaijan related materials in foreign mass media etc. The Minister pointed out as well that economic issues, relations with Azerbaijani Diaspora abroad, as well as protection of the rights of the Azerbaijani juridical and physical persons abroad should also be focus of our diplomatic missions’ attention.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is ready to play a key role in development of important documents related to the country’s foreign policy, national security and military conception, he said. Minister Mammadyarov also expressed the opinion that the Ministry should be involved both in cooperation with Milli Majlis and development of Inter-parliamentary cooperation in an everyday basis.

To defend Azerbaijan’s interests under conditions of globalization, the coordinating role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be provided with certain work.

Along with some questions, on this purpose the Foreign Ministry prepares appropriate documents on priority issues of foreign policy and submits to other governmental structures of Azerbaijan.

Internal composition of the Ministry should be improved and bring in conformity with the foreign policy priorities. To this end, some departments of the Ministry will be abolished, while some others be set up. Issues of integration to the European structures, sections on archives, training centers and other structures will be established. The Ministry’s Board should be set up. Appropriate proposals have already been submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.

We must activate the work with the local and foreign mass media, Elmar Mammadyarov underlined. Briefings on the organized events, the position of our state on separate questions of foreign policy should be disclosed for mass media representatives in a defined order. Propaganda and agitation through Internet should be strengthened.

The diplomatic service should be provided with worthy and able personnel meeting international standards. The Foreign Ministry carries appropriate work in this direction. We must ensure openness, transparency, objectivity, professionalism and clear principles in selection of staff members and other issues in the Ministry.

Summing up my remarks, I would like to underline that the diplomatic service in Azerbaijan has been established after restoration of statehood in a new environment, the Minister said. Our diplomats have a lot to do.

Addressing the President, the foreign minister assured the head of state that the personnel of diplomatic service bodies would make every effort to realize the tasks put forward.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a speech at the meeting.