Baku, Bern reinforce ties with two new deals

Azerbaijan and Switzerland strengthened the bilateral ties through inking two new agreements.

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, during his official visit to Bern on October 10, inked the deals with his counterpart, Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter on readmission of persons residing without authorization and on facilitation of the issuing of visas.

After the ratification of these agreements, persons holding diplomatic and service passports of the two countries will be exempt from the visas and the issuance of visas for persons from other categories will be facilitated.

Whereas, the readmission agreement aims to simplify the regulations on the return of persons obliged to leave its territory.

During the meeting held prior to the signing ceremony, the sides commended the level of development of relations between the two states, stressing that energy policy is one of the cornerstones of SwissAzerbaijani relations.

Azerbaijan is Switzerland’s main business partner in the South Caucasus region. The two countries have accelerated their bilateral relations over the past decade by signing several agreements strengthening their cooperation, especially in the economic sphere.

The sides stressed the great potential of our countries for further enhancement of economic cooperation in the spirit of bilateral political relations. In this regard, successful activity of more than 70 Swiss companies in Azerbaijan and SOCAR in Switzerland was noted.

The sides also spoke of the cooperation in the vocational education, training, and noted the advanced system of Switzerland in this field. The ministers stressed the importance of exchange of experience on the vocational training and education.

Touching upon the conflicts in the South Caucasus, particularly the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Mammadyarov once again reminded Azerbaijan’s position, noting that the conflict should be resolved within the territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and the resolution of the UN Security Council.

Later on this day, Azerbaijan`s minister met Filippo Lombardi, Chairman of the Inter-parliamentary Friendship Group in Swiss Parliament.

The Minister noted that the activities of Inter-parliamentary Friendship Groups play an important role in the development of the cooperation between the two sides.

Noting about holding of the radical economic reforms in Azerbaijan and the availability of attractive investment opportunities, Azerbaijan’s foreign minister invited Swiss companies to invest more actively in the non-oil sector of the country.

Mammadyarov said that the country has implemented the important transport projects, and expressed confidence that the Swiss companies will show interest in them.

In this context, the sides exchanged views on expansion of cooperation between Stadler Rail and Azerbaijani Railways.