Azerbaijan, Greece sign a number intergovernmental documents - UPDATED

17:02:09

11:20

If Armenia observes international law, Karabakh conflict will soon be settled, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev after the meeting with Greek president Karolos Papoulias in Athens, according to press secretariat of the Azerbaijani president, according to Novosti-Azerbaijan.

After the meeting, speaking before the journalists the head of the state touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and said hat the conflict can be settled under the only condition - the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and in the framework of international law.

He also added that Azerbaijan attaches a great importance to this visit and results of the visit will have a positive influence on bilateral ties.

In turn, Greek president Karolos Papoulias noted that the documents signed between Azerbaijan and Greece will serve to strengthening and expansion of bilateral relations.

The Greek president also noted that the meetings focused on issues related to expansion of relations in different spheres between the countries.

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16:02:09

19:24

Following a one-on-one meeting, Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Karolos Papoulias of Greece met in the presence of the two countries` delegations.

President Papoulias stressed the importance of Azerbaijani President`s attending the inauguration of the Turkey-Greece gas pipeline. He noted the present visit would give a kick-start to bilateral ties.

Greek President said energy ties between the two countries are developing well as well, adding it is important for the regional cooperation. Papoulias expressed his confidence that bilateral relations would continue to develop.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed satisfaction over development of bilateral relationship. According to him, the documents to be signed during the visit will create a good legal framework for expanding ties in the economic, political, energy and other fields.

Azerbaijani Leader highlighted Azerbaijan`s role in ensuring energy security in Europe and emphasized the importance of energy cooperation with Greece.
President Ilham Aliyev recalled his participation in the inauguration of the Turkey-Greece pipeline, adding this pipeline marked the beginning of the new era in Azerbaijan-Greece relations and regional energy cooperation.

President of Azerbaijan expressed his hope that bilateral ties between the two nations will continue to expand.
The Presidents underscored the importance of bilateral relations within the framework of Azerbaijan-European Union ties. They noted there is good potential for expanding bilateral ties.

After that Azerbaijan and Greece signed several documents in the presence of President Ilham Aliyev and Karolos Papoulias.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Greek Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Antonis Bezas signed the Convention for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and on capital between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Greece;

President of the "Azerbaijan Airlines" Company, AZAL, Jahangir Asgarov and Greek Deputy Ministry of Transport and Communications Michalis Bekiris signed an agreement on air communication between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Greece;
Azerbaijani Minister of Communications and Information Technologies Ali Abbasov and Greek Deputy Ministry of Transport and Communications Michalis Bekiris signed an agreement on cooperation in information and communication technologies between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Greece;

Azerbaijani Minister of Industry and Energy Natig Aliyev and Greek Development Minister Kostis Hatzidakis signed a Memo on renewable energy and energy efficiency between the Ministry of Industry and Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Development of the Republic of Greece.


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19:16

Azerbaijan spares no efforts for strengthening the energy security of Europe and counts on exporting gas to Europe via Greece, said President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in the Athens on Monday. "It has been more than a year that Azerbaijani natural gas is supplied to the Greek market and from there goes to Europe. There are no doubts that much can further be done in this direction", said I.Aliyev after the meeting with his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias.

The Azerbaijani President said the issue of energy security is a priority of the world community. Greece has earlier displayed the intention to raise gas purchase in Azerbaijan, while exact volumes of supplies were not specified. Athens is also interested in signing a four-party agreement between Azerbaijan, Turkey, Greece and Italy on gas transportation to Europe. Four countries are already participating in the project of the transit gas pipeline which is planning to connect Turkey with Western Europe and become one of the five main routes of gas transportation in EU.

According to RIA Novosti, the meeting participants discussed the situation in the Caucasus, Middle East and Balkans. By initiative of the Greek side, the presidents were speaking of the Cyprus problem while by Azerbaijan's initiative the talk referred to the issue of resolution in the conflict area in Nagorno Karabakh.

President of Azerbaijan invited his Greek counterpart to visit Baku, this invitation was accepted. Aliyev arrived on a three day official visit to Greece this Sunday.


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18:45

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Karolos Papoulias of Greece have met one-on-one, AzerTac reports.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with developing relations between Azerbaijan and Greece in political, economic and energy spheres.

It was stressed that the current visit of the Azerbaijani President to Athens would contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

The presidents expressed confidence that Azerbaijan-Greece relations would continue to develop.

The two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional issues.

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16:07

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev today has been officially welcomed to Greece with a solemn ceremony at the Presidential Palace there, according to AzerTac.

A guard of honor was lined up at the square in front of the palace decorated with the national flags of Azerbaijan and Greece.

President Ilham Aliyev was welcomed by Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

Chief of the honor guard reported to the Azerbaijani President.

The two leaders inspected the guard of honor as a military orchestra played the national anthems of their countries.

Greek officials were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev, while members of the Azerbaijani delegation to Greek leader Karolos Papoulias.

The presidents then posed for photographs.

/Day.Az/