"Azerbaijan intends to raise economic relations with Pakistan to political level"

Azerbaijan intends to raise the economic relations with Pakistan to the political level.

Azerbaijan intends to make every effort for political, economic, military-technical and cultural relations with Pakistan to develop and strengthen with each passing year, Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan Dashgin Shikarov said.

"Today, Pakistan faces many challenges, especially in the economic sphere," he said. "Last year's floods, which damaged big electric power stations in the country, led to a great lack of energy. It caused tremendous damage. Taking all this into account, it is necessary to pay attention to the expansion of economic relations between countries."

Political relations between the countries are at a very high level. The parties intend to continue developing these relations, the diplomat said.

The mutual visits of the presidents played the important role.

"Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari plans to visit Azerbaijan this year to promote and maintain the relations at a high-level," he said. "We believe that this visit will be the impetus to expand the economic relations in accordance with the political ones."

A business forum is also planned to be held with participation of businessmen of both countries.

Pakistan one of the first countries recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. The diplomatic relations between the countries were established in 1992 year.

The two countries support each other on the Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.

"The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has always supported Azerbaijan in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said. "It is important to stress that Pakistan does not recognize Armenia as a state and does not establish diplomatic relations with it in connection with the occupation of Azerbaijani lands."

Azerbaijan has always supported Pakistan in the Kashmir issue on the international arena. It hopes that the problem will be solved within the international norms and principles.


/Trend/