PRESIDENTS OF AZERBAIJAN AND UKRAINE GIVE PRESS CONFERENCE
Following the ceremony of signing intergovernmental documents between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, Presidents Ilham Aliyev and Viktor Yushchenko gave a press-conference.
In his press statement, the Ukrainian President said much work has been done in the last few years to expand bilateral relations that he characterized as highly dynamic. He announced that during the talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart they touched on a wide range of political, economic, energy and humanitarian issues.
On the energy cooperation between the two countries, Viktor Yushchenko pointed out the importance of both realization of the Odessa-Brody-Plotsk-Gdansk oil pipeline project and processing of Caspian oil in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the decision to allocate an area for construction of a building for Ukrainian embassy in Azerbaijan and for the expected opening of the monument to the classic of Ukrainian literature Taras Shevchenko in Baku.
He also told the press conference they had agreed on conducting Days of Ukrainian culture in Baku in the fall of 2008.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev highly valued the talks he had with his Ukrainian counterpart, noting that close and friendly ties established between the two countries since both regained independence, now have reached a qualitatively new level. “It is confirmed by the documents we have signed today, and first of all, the Declaration of Friendship and Strategic Partnership, which reflects the character and spirit of our relationships” he said.
The Azerbaijani leader announced on the decision to create a Council of Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, which will have to become an effective body to define priorities of bilateral cooperation and control implementation of decisions.
He thanked President Yushchenko for backing Azerbaijan’s position by voting in favor of the UN General Assembly Resolution on the Situation in the Occupied Territories of Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani leader stressed the importance of diversification of the routes to deliver Caspian oil to the world markets, noting that as large energy supplier, Azerbaijan is developing new projects, which would allow the country to completely realize its energy potential.
Then, the two Presidents responded to questions from journalists.
Other news in this section
