Azerbaijan, Bulgaria discuss developing bilateral ties

/By AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Emil Karimov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to Sofia met with Daniel Mitov, the Bulgarian foreign minister to explore ways in which to develop bilateral relations.

The two sides discussed the recent official visit of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev to Bulgaria, and hailed the fact that it gave a new impetus to bilateral economic, trade and political relations.

During the visit to Sofia President Ilham Aliyev, signed with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership on March 4. European gas security was also high on the agenda during President Ilham Aliyev's talks with Bulgaria's senior leadership.

Addressing the meeting, Mitov underscored the importance that Bulgaria attaches to its relations with Azerbaijan in the economic and energy fields.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan is a strategic partner both for Bulgaria and the entire European Union.

Mitov voiced Bulgaria's will to support the acceleration of coordination related to the Treaty on Strategic Partnership between the EU and Azerbaijan, bnr.bg website reported.

“Signing the agreement will be profitable not only for Bulgaria and the EU but also for Azerbaijan,” he said.

Karimov, for his turn, pointed out the strategic importance of the relations between the two sides in all possible areas and focused on energy links related to the transfer of Azerbaijani gas through Bulgaria to the entire region -- Southeastern and Central Europe.

The two diplomats discussed the possibilities to enhance trade and economic relations between the two countries in various fields and industries.

Azerbaijan and Bulgaria are developing friendly relations after Bulgaria recognized the independence of Azerbaijan in January 1992.

The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in June, 1992. The embassy of Bulgaria in Azerbaijan was opened in December 1999.

The potential trade turnover between the two countries does not correspond with the existing turnover. For the nine months of 2014 the trade turnover between them amounted to $123 million, according to the Azerbaijan State Statistics Committee.