MFA press-releases
Foreign Minister visits the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
On January 3, 2005, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan left for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
On January 4, Minister Mammadyarov met with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King of Saudi Arabia Fahd Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The Minister conveyed Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev`s best greetings to the King and people of Saudi Arabia. In his turn, King of Saudi Arabia said that he looked forward to seeing Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Saudi Arabia. Speaking about developing bilateral relations, Minister Mammadyarov expressed his confidence that the forthcoming visit of the Azerbaijani President to Saudi Arabia would further these relations.
On that day, Minister Mammadyarov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mr. Said Al Feysal. During the meeting Mr. Mammadyarov invited his counterpart to Azerbaijan, and the parties discussed the prospects of developing political, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations, fight against terrorism and also cooperation within the framework of international organizations. During the meeting they also exchanged views on the current status of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process, ending military aggression committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan, peace process in the Middle East and current situation in Iraq.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral Political Consultations. The memorandum reflects conducting regular talks and consultations in Baku and in Er-Riyadh to have an exchange of views on regional and international issues of common interest between two states. After the signing ceremony the parties held a joint press conference.
On January 5, Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Emir Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Deputy Prime Minister, Commander of the National Guard, Emir Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Governor of the Er-Riyadh district, Hashim Yashani, Minister of Trade and Industry, Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Commission and Saleh bin Abdullah bin Umeid, Chairman of the Saudi Arabia Council's Assembly.
Conveying the greetings of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, Minister Mammadyarov noted the President's visit to Saudi Arabia in the near future. Speaking about bilateral relations Minister Mammadyarov stressed the importance of developing ties in the field of economy, trade, tourism, health care, and expressed his content upon existing religious, cultural and historical ties between the two nations. Minister Mammadyarov spoke about the importance of peace and stability in the region and briefed his counterparts about the current stage of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. The Minister stressed the unacceptability of Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan and thanked the Saudi Arabian government for its support, within international organizations, in the condemning the aggression and adopting resolutions demanding withdrawal of the occupying armed forces from the occupied territories. During the meeting the parties also exchanged views on the reforms conducted in our country, integration of Azerbaijan into Euro-Atlantic structures, Middle East peace process, and other issues of mutual interest.
The Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said, in his turn, that he looked forward to seeing Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev in Saudi Arabia and added that this visit would give powerful impetus to developing the bilateral relations. Wishing Minister Mammadyarov a successful visit, he expressed confidence that that such visit would have positive impact on bilateral relations.
