President of Azerbaijan ends his visit to Finland - UPDATED

31.05.08

10:00

AzerTag reports that Ilham Aliyev ended his visited to Findland on May 30. The President arrived in Baku on the same day.

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30.05.08

15:33

AzerTag reports that President of Azerbaijan met today with Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen.

I.Aliyev visited Hietaniemi cemetery, where state figures, all former presidents of Finland, as well as victims of the World War Second are buried.

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15:00

Azerbaijan`s President Ilham Aliyev met Thursday with members of the Paasikivi Society as part of his official trip to Helsinki.

President of the society Mikko Viitasalo said "we are aware of the situation in Caucasus, and know that led by President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan is dynamically developing and implementing international projects".

President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan has done great job to preserve its independence and build market economy.

He said a huge inflow of investments to the country`s oil sector was what opened up new opportunities to develop non-oil sectors of the economy.

The President noted Azerbaijan managed to ensure transparent collection and distribution of oil revenues, adding the country`s State Oil Fund was honored with a relevant award by the United Nations last year.

President Ilham Aliyev then touched upon Azerbaijan`s Nagorno-Karabakh conflict with Armenia.

The President also responded to questions from the meeting`s participants.

Afterwards, President Ilham Aliyev was presented with a special medal
the Paasikivi Society awards to its guests of honor.

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11:00

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Helsinki on Thursday visited the Finnish Parliament - Eduskunta, where he met with its Speaker Sauli Niinisto, Secretary General Seppo Tiitinen and Head of International Relations Department Katrina Kuusinen.

The talk focused on Azerbaijan-Finland inter-parliamentary relations, cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including within international organizations, and other issues of mutual interest.

Sauli Niinisto evaluated the existing relations between Azerbaijan and Finland as very good saying there are no problems between the two countries. He said his country attaches particular importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan, which he described as a reliable and stable economy.

The Speaker highly praised the progress Azerbaijan has achieved in the past few years, especially in oil and gas industry. He expressed hope the visit by the Azerbaijani leader will promote strengthening ties between the two countries and people.

President Ilham Aliyev pointed out it was the first official visit to Finland as a President of independent Azerbaijan. He said Azerbaijan attaches great importance to development of its relations with Finland, noting his country is carrying out fruitful bilateral cooperation with the European Union.

The Azerbaijani leader informed the Finnish parliamentarians on the political and economic reforms being implemented in Azerbaijan.

After the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev toured the Finnish Parliament building.

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29.05.08

17:30

Presidents of Azerbaijan and Finland Ilham Aliyev and Tarja Halonen met today in the presidential palace in Helsinki

Finland will put efforts for the peaceful resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The due announcement was made by President of Finland Tarja Halonen by results of the meeting with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Helsinki.

"Being a chairman of the OSCE, Finland has an opportunity to contribute to the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and will put all efforts for its peaceful resolution", said the President.

In turn, President of Azerbaijan noted that "only after the restoration of territorial integrity of Azerbaijan will peace come to the region".

Ilham Aliyev noted that official Baku is for the peaceful resolution of the conflict in line with international law and territorial integrity.

"Though ceasefire regime has been in force since 1994, peace has not been achieved so far. Therefore, incidents are often recorded on the contact line", announced the President.

"The problem can be settled in case the occupied lands are returned to Azerbaijan and IDPs are able to return to their homes", added he.

It should be noted that Ilham Aliyev will visit the city council of Helsinki, the parliament of Finland and meet with the speaker and deputies.

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17:06

All reforms in Azerbaijan both economic and political ones are held on par.

According to Novosti-Azerbaijan, the due announcement was made by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the ceremony on the occassion of the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan People's Republic.

"Today Azerbaijan is strengthening its positions in the world. All our efforts, both economic and political ones, are aimed at strengthening the country. It is known from the history and the past of other countries that if reforms are not conducted on par, this may create great problems, especially in the transitive countries.

The results we have achieved, the work, carried out in Azerbaijan, and its correct direction prove that this is the only correct correct choice.

Owing to this policy, stability is preserved and strengthened in Azerbaijan and the sociopolitical order has been fully established", said he.

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13:55

The due information has been provided by Day.Az with reference to the official website of the President of Finland.

During the meeting the presidents discussed bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Finland, as well as the European Union.

The sides also touched upon the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in the framework of Finland's chairmanship in the OSCE.

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10:09

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev left for Finland for an official visit on Wednesday.

At the Heydar Aliyev International Airport, the President was seen off by Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Chief of the Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev and Mayor of Baku Hajibala Abutalybov.

/Day.Az/, /AzerTag/