Azerbaijan, Baku, September 4 /Trend, S.Agayeva/
Azerbaijan is interested in developing cooperation with Great Britain in the non-energy sphere, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said during a meeting with his British counterpart William Hague.
During the meeting of the two ministers which was held within Azerbaijani Foreign Minister's working trip to the United Kingdom, they exchanged views about issues on the agenda of the United Nations Security Council, as well as bilateral cooperation, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
Praising Azerbaijan's increased role in energy issues Secretary Hague expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan's contributions and support to operations in Afghanistan as well as cooperation in NATO.
Mammadyarov expressed the Azerbaijani government's interest in developing cooperation with the UK in investment, tourism, education and other areas.
Briefed about the on-going peace process aimed at resolving the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Minister Mammadyarov stressed that in order to achieve a solution to the conflict, Armenian armed forces should withdraw from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and work has to begin on drafting a comprehensive peace agreement.
Enhancement of bilateral relations is in the interest of both countries, the UK Foreign Minister said during the meeting.
Hague also noted that Great Britain supports the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group and stands for the peaceful resolution of the conflict.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 per cent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the U.S. are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.