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Azerbaijani Foreign Minister paying official visit to Sri Lanka - PHOTO

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister paying official visit to Sri Lanka - <span style="color: red;">PHOTO

06 May 2013 15:08 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry told APA that Sri Lankan Foreign Minister welcomed Azerbaijani delegation to Sri Lanka and noted he was pleased to see Azerbaijani Foreign Minister in Sri Lanka. Hailing high level political relations between the two countries, Gamini Lakshman Peiris stressed the importance that this relationship also covers spheres such as economy, trade, mutual investments, energy and tourism. Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister called Azerbaijan powerhouse in its region and remarked that its election as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council is a testimony to Azerbaijan's increased international influence.

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov thanked for the reception and said that there is large potential to expand bilateral cooperation across many spheres. Minister noted that in view of Sri Lankan rich expertise in tea production there is good prospects for cooperation between the two countries in tea production. He also underlined opportunities to cooperate in culture, energy, tourism and sea transport. In his turn, Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister noted that Sri Lanka may benefit from the rich experience and historic traditions of Azerbaijan in energy production.

Minister Mammadyarov praised the progress Sri Lanka has made since the end of war and drew his colleague's attention to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and its consequences. Minister pointed out that Armenia's aggressive policies have led to its isolation in the region and if it ends these policies, then Armenia may be able to benefit regional development processes underway at the initiation and involvement of Azerbaijan.

During the meeting they also discussed the ways to strengthen legal framework for bilateral cooperation and prospects of close cooperation at international organisations, in particular the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement.

The meeting ended with the signing of Protocol on cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ministry of External Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.