BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Position of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Azerbaijan's territorial integrity during the occupation was very important to us, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said, while making press statements with Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željka Cvijanović in Sarajevo, Trend reports.
Statement by President Ilham Aliyev
- Honorable Madam Chairman, Honorable Mr. Komšić, Honorable Mr.
Bećirović.
Dear ladies and gentlemen.
First of all, Madam Chairman, I would like to thank you for your hospitality. I am very happy to be visiting your beautiful country. As you mentioned, we met in Baku a month and a half ago. You invited me to your country and I accepted this invitation with great pleasure. So here I am in your country today.
Today, during a broad exchange of views, we have reached a unified position regarding the future development of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Azerbaijan relations. In other words, these relations will develop on an ascending trend from now on.
The history of our relations is also excellent. Consultations and contacts, especially at the political level, have raised our relations to a high level. We have supported each other in all issues within international organizations, and this support is felt even today. The position of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of Azerbaijan's borders was very important to us, especially during the occupation.
I would like to mention one issue in particular. Two and a half
years ago, when Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity in
the Second Karabakh War, Bosnia and Herzegovina firmly supported
Azerbaijan and our rightful cause. This is a position of friendship
and brotherhood, for which we are grateful to you.
Azerbaijan, in its turn, has unequivocally supported the interests
of Bosnia and Herzegovina in all issues, including territorial
integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders.
Today, a new page of our relations begins. As I mentioned earlier, the negotiations conducted within the framework of the official visit open up ample opportunities. In particular, the Declaration on the strategic partnership signed today shows the directions of our future development.
We will regularly hold political and diplomatic consultations. At the same time, work in the economic field will be carried out in a more focused manner. A decision was made on a joint commission, i.e. the Joint Economic Commission. During today's negotiations, we also agreed to set up a working group on specific projects, and steps in this direction will be taken in a short period of time.
Strategic partnership is a special relationship. This places a great responsibility on both countries. We are ready for this responsibility. I am sure that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan will continue to work together as strategic partners in the true sense of the word.
Regarding other areas of cooperation, I can say that the issue of increasing trade turnover is on the agenda. We have asked that specific investment projects be presented to us. We will look at these projects, analyze them and give our answer in a short time. We are also interested in investing in your country.
At the same time, there are very extensive opportunities in the field of energy. The length of the Southern Gas Corridor initiated by Azerbaijan is 3,500 kilometers. For a little more than two years, this pipeline has been transporting our natural gas to Europe. This pipeline passes by the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It would be good if we start cooperating in the field of natural gas. Appropriate instructions have already been given.
At the same time, joint research will be conducted of hydropower and other types of renewable energy. I am sure that it will be possible to take serious steps in this direction. Azerbaijan has invested billions of dollars in foreign countries, and, of course, we are very interested in cooperating with Bosnia and Herzegovina in this field.
In parallel with this, all directions of cooperation in the
field of transport should be thoroughly investigated. Azerbaijan
has implemented and completed all the necessary infrastructure
projects in its territory under the Middle Corridor project. At the
same time, we are investing heavily in the establishment of
transport infrastructure in other countries. Therefore, I think
that the transport connection between the South Caucasus and the
Balkan regions could be useful for the peoples living in our
regions.
During the conversation today, we also exchanged ideas on the
deepening of intercultural dialogue and shared our experience.
I believe that joint activity can be of great importance in this direction as well. Both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan are multi-confessional countries. Many ethnic groups live in our countries, and the co-existence of these ethnic groups in the conditions of peace, calm, friendship and brotherhood is the main precondition for stability. Here, too, there are great opportunities for an exchange of ideas, an exchange of experience, joint activities, including cooperation in the field of science and education and within non-governmental organizations.
I want to thank you again for this invitation and for your hospitality. I should also mention one point: in 1972, during the existence of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, a twinning agreement was signed between Baku and Sarajevo. Since then, Sarajevo and Baku have been considered sister cities. I am sure that after this visit our brotherhood will become even stronger. Thank you.