Azerbaijan, Latvia discuss prospects of ties

Azerbaijan and Latvia have explored ways of boosting bilateral relations as the two counties` parliamentarians met in Riga.

A group of Azerbaijani MPs, led by Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Latvia interparliamentary friendship group Rovshan Rzayev met members of Latvia-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group at the Saeima.

The meeting also included Azerbaijani ambassador to Latvia Elman Zeynalov, head of the Latvia-Azerbaijan interparliamentary friendship group Janis Reirs, Azerbaijani MPs Fuad Muradov and Chingiz Asadullayev, as well as members of five Latvian political fractions.

Latvian MP Janis Reirs stressed the importance of development relations between the parliamentarians of the two countries. He noted speaker of the Latvian Saeima Solvita Aboltina would visit Baku next spring.

Chairman of the Azerbaijan-Latvia interparliamentary friendship group Rovshan Rzayev highlighted recent presidential election in Azerbaijan, which he described as transparent and democratic. Rzayev underlined the importance of reciprocal visits in terms of expansion of bilateral relations. He proposed holding a joint business forum on the sidelines of the Latvian Saeima speaker`s trip to Baku. Touching upon the regional security and Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, he said, the dispute is a big threat to economic development of the South Caucasus. He drew the Latvian MPs` attention to “the fact that Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territories are still under occupation”. Rzayev said Azerbaijan urges the international community to make efforts towards building confidence between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh in order to balance a dialogue between the communities.

The Latvian MPs hailed trade and economic relations between the two countries, which made $6.68 million in the first 6 months of the current year.

Azerbaijani MP Fuad Muradov emphasized the significance of furthering economic relations between the two countries. He said Azerbaijan, which is rich with energy resources, plays the leading role in ensuring European energy security.
Ambassador Zeynalov expressed confidence Azerbaijan-Latvia interparliamentary bonds will continue developing.

He touched upon a visit by a group of Latvian MPs to Armenia, saying “I believe they will not respond to provocations of the Armenian side, and will not visit the occupied territories of Azerbaijan”.


/AzerTAg/