Official dinner reception was hosted in honor of Ilham Aliyev

President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus and his wife Livia Klausova have hosted an official dinner reception in honor of President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva.

Saluting President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva again, the President of the Czech Republic spoke about the importance of President Aliyev’s visit to Prague from the standpoint of continuing the dialogue that was started after his own visit to Baku a year ago and discussing the pressing international issues, opportunities and prospects for bilateral cooperation.

President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus said:

- Dear Mr. President!

I am aware that this is your first visit to Prague as President. I remember our meeting on the sidelines of the “Eastern Partnership” summit organized within the framework of our country’s presidency in the European Union. I am confident that this visit of yours will give a strong impetus to the development of Czech-Azerbaijani relations.

Our relations have a solid foundation. Our economic cooperation commenced back in communist years. Czech industrial goods are known quite well in Azerbaijan and in your industrial sector. Despite this, the development of direct relations has only been possible in the last 20 years, after your country regained independence.

It is very commendable that our relations are expanding at all levels. This has been facilitated by the opening of our representative offices in both Prague and Baku, the hard work of our ambassadors and the presence of a direct air link between the two capitals. It is also worth pointing to the growing number of high-level mutual visits and the strengthening business relations. The peak of that, of course, has been the mutual visits by Presidents. As an example we can refer to my visit to Baku last year and your current visit.

In May of last year, we had the opportunity of witnessing the rapid and dynamic development of your beautiful country. We have become familiar with the magnificent projects you have prepared and already implemented. Czech companies are very interested in contributing to your economic development. There are already examples of successful cooperation in the industrial sector, infrastructure development, technology and equipment, supply of consumer goods. We can generate new opportunities on this basis. I would like to note that Azerbaijan has turned into one of the most significant consumers of Czech goods and a strategic partner.

Dear Mr. President!

We want Azerbaijan, a country located in a very complex political region, to develop in a stable and peaceful environment. We want the long-standing and aggravating conflict to be resolved in peace. The Czech Republic has always supported all international activities and initiatives to this end and will continue to do so in the future.

The President of the Czech Republic expressed his confidence that the state visit of his Azerbaijani counterpart to Prague would give a strong impetus to the development of bilateral relations and that the Azerbaijani delegation would have good impressions about the visit.

After the Czech President’s remarks, the national anthem of the Republic of Azerbaijan was played.

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Then remarks were made by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

The President said he was pleased to visit the friendly Czech Republic, a country with diverse history and culture. He said bilateral relations had entered a new phase of development.

Noting that the talks held during the Czech President’s visit to Azerbaijan in May 2011 had contributed to elevating bilateral relations to a new level, President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Thanks to the efforts we have made in recent years our relations have broadened. An intergovernmental commission was set up and held its first meeting last year. Trade between our countries increased several times in 2011 in comparison with 2010. The participation of Czech banks in the important projects under way in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan’s role in the energy supplies of the Czech Republic are an indicator of our economic ties. There are good prospects for a fruitful cooperation in energy, trade, industrial, transportation, information technologies, agriculture, tourism and other sectors. I am sure that my visit, the agreements reached and the documents signed in the areas of culture and tourism today will further bolster our relations.

Next year we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of our diplomatic relations. I do hope that we will mark this remarkable date with new achievements in the various spheres of Azerbaijani-Czech relations.

Our countries cooperate closely within international organizations such as the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe. Azerbaijan’s election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council is opening up opportunities for the development of our multifaceted cooperation. Our country’s first mission in this prestigious organization will serve respect for the norms and principles of international law and restoration of peace and justice in the world.

Relations with the European Union and Euro-Atlantic institutions are an important component of Azerbaijan’s foreign policies. Our soldiers are guarding stability in Afghanistan.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Czech Republic for its contribution to the development of Azerbaijan’s relations with the European Union and NATO. Having turned into a regional economic center, Azerbaijan is also a reliable energy partner and is ready to keep on contributing to European energy security. The Joint Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor signed between the European Commission and Azerbaijan in January 2011 is a graphic example of that. We are interested in delivering our energy resources to world markets through all directions and are working on different projects now.

Azerbaijan is in favor of peace, stability and security in the region. But as you know, our historical lands of Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent districts have been under Armenian occupation for over 20 years. As a result of Armenia’s policy of ethnic cleansing on this territory, over a million Azerbaijanis have become refugees and IDPs. There are four UN Security Council resolutions, decisions and resolutions of the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, NATO and other international organizations regarding the conflict. It is our firm stance that the conflict should be resolved only in line with international law and on the basis of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.

The President of Azerbaijan expressed his gratitude for the hospitality shown during the visit and wished prosperity to the Czech people. After the President’s remarks, the national anthem of the Czech Republic was played.