The opening ceremony of the residency of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Serbia has been held in Belgrade.

The ceremony was attended by President Ilham Aliyev.

The head of state cut a ribbon as a sign of opening of the embassy.

President Ilham Aliyev then reviewed the conditions in the embassy building.

Azerbaijani Ambassador to Serbia Eldar Hasanov informed the head of state that there are all the conditions for the work of diplomats at the embassy. All embassy offices are fitted with necessary equipment, which will enable the staff to do their work at a higher level.

President Ilham Aliyev addressed a ceremony with a speech.

Indicating that it was a remarkable and historic day for the development of Serbian-Azerbaijani relations, the head of state said that underlying such statements were several important activities held during the course of the day. Stressing that Tasmajdan Park had become a symbol of friendship between the two peoples, President Ilham Aliyev touched upon the importance of the documents signed during his visit to Serbia. Azerbaijani-Serbian relations are successfully developing and covering all spheres, the President said. He expressed his satisfaction with the high level of relations between the two countries.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan would continue standing by Serbia in all international organizations.

Highlighting that the political administration of both countries had made important statements in relation to territorial integrity, the head of state said the sides had also had a broad exchange on prospects for economic and energy cooperation and that there were no disagreements between them on any issues.

President Ilham Aliyev said:

I am absolutely certain that our relations, built on a foundation of strategic partnership, are already rising to the level of alliance.

Mutual reverence for outstanding personalities of the two nations – the erection of monuments to great leader Heydar Aliyev and the great son of the Serbian people, Milorad Pavic – is vivid evidence of how sincere our relations are. During a ceremony in Tasmajdan Park today, I handed the Mayor of Belgrade a resolution of the Baku Mayor. The resolution says that one of the parks in Baku will be named after the outstanding personality of the Serbian people, world-famous scientist Nikola Tesla, and a monument to him will be put up there.
In other words, I am sure that this day will be remembered as a great day, especially if we consider that there is already a part of the Azerbaijani state in Serbia. I am sure that our embassy will work actively and make a valuable contribution to the development of bilateral relations. I can say that members of our delegation and myself feel very much at home here.

I want to thank the leadership of Serbia, the Serbian people and all our friends for the hospitality, warmth and kind attitude to us.

Thank you.

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Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic attending the ceremony thanked President Ilham Aliyev for his participation. He said Azerbaijan always supported Serbia in international organizations and added that the opening of embassies in our countries would make an important contribution to bilateral cooperation.
Azerbaijani Ambassador to Serbia Eldar Hasanov thanked President Ilham Aliyev for the attention and care about Azerbaijan’s diplomatic mission in Serbia. The Ambassador noted that great leader Heydar Aliyev had always paid great attention to the activities of Azerbaijani embassies, and President Ilham Aliyev was continuing that policy.

Eldar Hasanov also provided information about the projects the embassy is implementing in order to deepen Serbian-Azerbaijani relations.

The widow of prominent Serbian writer Milorad Pavic, Jasmina Mihajlovic, thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the attention and reverence for the memory of her late husband. She expressed her confidence that Milorad Pavic would always be revered in both Azerbaijan and Serbia.

Jasmina Mihajlovic presented President Ilham Aliyev with a manuscript of the “Khazar Dictionary” by Milorad Pavic.

During a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev, representatives of foreign embassies invited to the ceremony indicated that there was a great international interest in Azerbaijan and that the country’s economic development was watched very closely in the world. They congratulated the head of state on the opening of the residency of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Serbia.