Speech by Ilham Aliyev at the first meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council between Azerbaijan and Serbia

- Distinguished President and dear friend, Mr. Ilham Aliyev,

Distinguished ministers in the Government of Azerbaijan and ministers in the Government of Serbia,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

It gives me an honor to open the first session of the Strategic Partnership Council between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Azerbaijan. The special symbolism of today's meeting and Council session is that it is taking place on the most important day for the Republic of Serbia – national holiday, the Statehood Day – which we celebrate with our closest friends, President Ilham Aliyev, and the guests from Azerbaijan.

This session is a turning point in our bilateral relations and a clear proof of the joint political will to put the relations between our two countries at the highest strategic level. Let me remind you that this Council stemmed from the joint vision and the agreement with my dear friend, President Ilham Aliyev. The Republic of Serbia has meetings in such a format with only a few countries.

Allow me to particularly underline that the presence of President Aliyev, as well as high-level officials and ministers in both the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia, speaks clearly about the importance that both sides attach to this Council. I am convinced that our work today will be aimed at concrete results, clear arrangements, and a vision of long-term cooperation. I'll make my introductory speech much shorter, and I'm begging at least Serbian ministers to do the same, because we cannot be late with our addresses to journalists. And please be respectful of that. I wanted to add just a few things.

Dear friend, Mr. President, and dear friends from Azerbaijan, we are very much determined to develop the very best strategic partnership with our friendly country, Azerbaijan. And we'll devote ourselves to that, which means that we'll work diligently in order to improve our relations in all different fields, in all different spheres. And, as it always goes with friends, we'll face some hurdles, we'll face some issues, but we'll always be able to resolve them. And what will never expire is our desire for friendship, for creating better relationships, and for interconnecting with each other much faster and much stronger.

We are going to open a direct flight line very soon between Belgrade and Baku, which will connect us much better than it used to be in the past. At the same time, in all different fields – culture, sports, economy, agriculture, industry, military-technical cooperation – I'm absolutely sure that we'll reach the ceiling of possible relationships between any two countries in the world. I also wanted to add just one more thing. I learned a lot from Ilham Aliyev, my dear friend, not only today, but that’s why I spent more time than expected even today. I always use that opportunity to learn more from him, and I plan to do so in the future as well. I know that he's a very dedicated friend, and I know that we can expect many good things from Azerbaijan. I believe that Azerbaijani people can always expect only good things from Serbia and the Serbian people. And I'm begging you, Serbian ministers, to be as diligent and dedicated as our Azerbaijani counterparts. I wish you good work.

I'm going to visit Azerbaijan relatively soon again, and before that, we need to deliver many results. I was discussing, Dubravka in particular, the issue of the gas-fired power plant with President Aliyev. And I was begging the President to participate personally in that issue, because I was saying very honestly what we are able to do and what we are not able to deliver on. I got guarantees from Mr. President that he himself will be very helpful on this. After we finish this pre-feasibility study, we need to speed up all the other procedures and everything else.

Dear friends from Azerbaijan, please feel at home here in Serbia. You are very welcome. Dear President, I wish you, your family, your people, and your nation all the best, and hope to host you as often as possible. And it has to be more often. Many thanks, and very welcome to Serbia. Thank you.