After meeting the authoritarian leader for talks, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel said that with Azerbaijan's support, the EU could improve its energy security. There would be various points of commonality once new oil pipelines were built, she said.

European Union officials vowed last year to forge stronger links with suppliers of vital oil and gas in a bid to ease the bloc's current dependence on energy-rich but increasingly assertive Russia.

"We have a serious interest in expanding our mutual economic links," said Merkel, whose nation currently exercises the EU presidency. Aliyev said he too saw many opportunities.

Merkel asked him to respect human rights and media freedom of speech, and Aliyev said in reply that Baku would meet its commitments under European agreements within five years. Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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