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Austrian Foreign Minister: Economic relations between our countries will be priority, but political relations are the core of all relations - PHOTOSESSION

23 June 2010 11:03 (UTC +04:00)

APA reports that following the signing ceremony Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger held a briefing. Elmar Mammadyarov called the agreement a significant document.

Foreign Minister said they had one-on-one discussions and talks with the participation of the delegations, Austrian Foreign Minister had been informed about the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the current state of the conflict resolution. The sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of the bilateral relations, various energy projects, expansion of the cooperation between foreign ministries and diplomatic academies. Agreement was reached to hold Culture Days in both countries.

â€œThe opening of Austrian embassy in Azerbaijan will offer great opportunities for the expansion of the cooperation between the two countries,â€ the minister said and added that Azerbaijan was ready for this cooperation.

Austrian Foreign Minister Michael Spindellegger noted that there was always special closeness between Austria and Azerbaijan, but the deeper prospects of the cooperation were discussed at todayâ€™s meeting: â€œEconomic relations between our countries will be priority, but political relations are the core of all relationsâ€. The minister invited his Azerbaijani counterpart to Vienna for official visit and to the event which would be held in August in Salzburg.

Asked about the prospects of economic relations, Mammadyarov said that Austrian energy company OMV had opened its office in Baku and SOCAR had opened its representation in Vienna. To him, next year the winter tourism facility will be opened in Azerbaijan as Azerbaijan-Austria joint project.

To the Austrian journalistâ€™s question â€œDoes Azerbaijan consider possible military solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflictâ€, Mammadyarov said that being Foreign Minister he wished the conflict to be solved in a diplomatic way: â€œIt is the position of Azerbaijanâ€™s Foreign Ministryâ€.