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Indian Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar: We should restore our relations which existed two hundreds year ago

27 September 2007 14:01 (UTC +04:00)

There were close relations between Azerbaijan and India two hundred years ago. At that time India was ruled by the British and Azerbaijan by Russians. Now we are free. Therefore we should restore our relations which existed once, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Honâ€™ble Minister of Panchayati Raj, Youth Affairs and Sports and North-East Region, Government of India told the APA.
Minister saying that they reached agreement on the exchange of visit among the youth in meeting with Azerbaijan Youth and Sport Minister Azad Rahimov said that his counterpart will visit India soon. The ministers reached an agreement in sport and decided to commission this work to specialists.
â€œWe want Azerbaijani sportsmen to participate in competitions held in India, and Indian sportsmen in competitions held in Azerbaijan,â€ he said.
The guest said that Azerbaijanâ€™s success in sport is linked with Azerbaijani Presidentâ€™s chairing National Olympic Committee.
â€œAzerbaijani population comprises half of population of capital of India, but medals Azerbaijan has won in Olympiads and international competitions are 4 times more that Indiaâ€™s medals. India can learn much from Azerbaijan. I regard that my visit will open door for this cooperation,â€ he said.
Mr. Aiyar said that he visited Shamakhi, got acquainted with Olympic Complex. He said that India will host National Youth Festival on January 12, 2008 and he invited his Azerbaijani counterpart to this event. /APA/