Baku, Azerbaijan, March 18
By Seba Aghayeva - Trend:
Islamic states should resolve their problems in coordination and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is a good platform in this regard, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said.
The foreign minister made the remarks following the meeting with his Sudanese counterpart Ali Ahmed Karti.
Mammadyarov said that agreement on cooperation in this issue was reached during the meeting with Sudan's foreign minister.
The political relations between Azerbaijan and Sudan are at the high level both in bilateral format and on the international arena, said Mammadyarov, adding that the two countries always support each other on the international arena.
Furthermore, he said that Azerbaijan is also interested in developing economic relations with Sudan which is rich with oil and gold.
Meanwhile, several projects on the further cooperation will be considered, according to Azerbaijan's foreign minister.
The two countries also intend to expand the legal framework. A protocol on cooperation between the foreign ministries of the two countries was signed on Mar.18.
Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti, for his part, said his country supports Azerbaijan's fair position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
The two countries signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Russia, France and the US are currently holding peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented the UN Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
"The purpose of my visit is to develop the cooperation," said Sudan's foreign minister, adding that especially, the two countries have great opportunities to develop the ties in energy sphere.
Sudan intends to benefit from Azerbaijan's experience in this sphere, said Karti, adding that his country is also interested in organizing the education of Sudanese students in Azerbaijani universities.
At the same time, Sudan invites Azerbaijani businessmen to invest in its economy, in particular, in the spheres of energy, gold production and others, according to Karti.
He said Sudan's government is ready to support Azerbaijani investments, adding that the work is underway on the draft agreements on mutual investment protection and exemption from double taxation.
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