Azerbaijan, San Marino eyeing expansion of bilateral ties

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Development of bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and San Marino was discussed during a visit by the latter’s foreign minister to Baku.

President Ilham Aliyev has received San Marino’s Foreign Minister Pasquale Valentini on September 8, AzerTac state news agency reported.

President Aliyev stressed the importance of the participation of the Captain Regents of San Marino in the opening ceremony of the first European Games, held this June in Azerbaijan and his meetings and exchange of views with them in terms of the development of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

The president noted the significance of defining opportunities for developing bilateral ties.

He expressed hope that various issues related to the expansion of bilateral relations would be discussed during Valentini's visit to Azerbaijan.

Valentini, in turn, said his itinerary was extensive and the fact that San Marino's two delegations visited Azerbaijan over the past two months testifies to his country's interest in expanding ties with Azerbaijan.

Diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and San-Marino were established on April in 2002. Azerbaijan’s ambassador to Italy, Vaqif Sadiqov, is currently the nonresident ambassador of Azerbaijan to San Marino.

San Marino is also interested in participating in Azerbaijan’s energy projects.

During a meeting between Valentini and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Elmar Mammadyarov, the sides mulled San Marino’s participation in large-scale energy projects implemented by Azerbaijan.

The sides stressed the importance of the visit by Valentini in terms of developing the bilateral relations.

During the meeting, Mammadyarov and Valentini had exchanged views on the importance of rapprochement between the two countries within international organizations.

Mammadyarov also informed the guest about the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which emerged in 1988 after Armenia’s territorial claims against Azerbaijan.

Later, the sides signed an agreement on exemption from visa requirements of persons with diplomatic and service passports, and the convention on avoidance of double taxation.