Dear guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I do extend my cordial greeting to you once again and wish you welcomed here.

Today, a new page is being opened in the relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Hellenic Republic. Useful political dialogue is being held. Relations are developing fast. We want these relations would cover all areas.

Dear Mr. President, I highly appreciate your official visit to Azerbaijan and I am confident that this visit will pave ground for a new level of relationship between our countries. It goes without saying that the conducted discussions and meetings will define new areas for mutual activities and contribute to the further expansion of the relation in future.

Expansion and the development of relations between our countries in political, economic, humanitarian, cultural and tourism fields are of paramount importance. I wish to express my hope that the ties to be established between Greek businessmen and Azerbaijani entrepreneurs during the Greek-Azerbaijani business Forum will give an impetus to our cooperation. Relationship will strengthen after your visit.

Today, Azerbaijani State continues the foreign and home policy founded by the national leader Heydar Aliyev. From this points of view the integration of Azerbaijan into the Europe and Euro-Atlantic structures, to the international organizations has an important place.

Thanks to the wise policy of Heydar Aliyev, today Azerbaijan takes its well-deserved place in the world. Our country is the member of Council of Europe and successfully cooperates with the NATO in the framework of “Partnership for Peace” program and with the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Azerbaijan has been included into the EU “ Wider Europe and neighbors” policy.

Today, the biggest energy projects of the world are being implemented in Azerbaijan. The transportation of the energy resources from the Caspian basin to the West, implementation of TRACECA Program, the restoration of the Great Silk Road, the projects like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline are wonderful examples to this. After the implementation of these projects a new stage of integration into Europe and the development in Azerbaijan, as well as the countries of the region will start. The operation of Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline will significantly expand Azerbaijan-Greek relations. This pipeline will not only make our countries to prosper, but it will also have a positive impact on their relationship.

Azerbaijan is closely co-operating with all the countries of the region. Only Armenia has isolated itself from such co-operation. As a result of military aggression of this country, 20% of our lands has been occupied, more than 1 million refugees and internally displaced people were ousted from their native places. Four UN Security Council Resolutions and OSCE decisions regarding the conflict remain unfulfilled. The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict must be solved soon based upon the international law norms and the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan must be restored.

It is with pleasure I wish to note that the Olympic games in the current year will be held in its historic Motherland-Greece. Azerbaijani sportsmen, as well as people form cultural and artistic communities are having special preparation for this noble event.

Esteemed Mr. President, once again I want to express that I do attach a high importance to your official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijani and wish you good health and permanent development and prosperity to your country. I raise my glass, Mr. President to You, to the development of sincere friendship and mutually beneficial relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Hellenic Republic.