Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan 9 /Trend S.Agayeva/
The Vatican relations with Azerbaijan are a good example for others Pope Benedict XVI said.
"The Vatican makes all efforts to develop relations with various countries, and the Holy See relations with Azerbaijan can serve as a positive example" Benedict XVI said during his annual address to the diplomatic corps accredited to the Vatican, Azerbaijani ambassador to the Vatican Elchin Amirbekov told Trend.
Amirbekov noted that Benedict XVI cited the bilateral agreement signed with Azerbaijan on the status of the Catholic Church in the country as an example.
The Pope stressed that the Vatican attaches great importance to bilateral relations, and conveyed New Year greetings to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady, Mehriban Aliyeva.
The Ambassador expressed his gratitude and, on behalf of country's leadership, re-invited the Pope to Azerbaijan. The invitation was accepted with great pleasure.
Secretary for Relations with States Archbishop Dominique Mamberti and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov exchanged documents on ratification of the Agreement between the Holy See and Azerbaijan in the Vatican Apostolic Palace in July 2011.
Agreement between the Holy See and Azerbaijan was signed on April 29, 2011 in Baku.