Djibouti: Azerbaijan contributing to Islamic solidarity
Azerbaijan and Djibouti have voiced commitment to further expand the existing cooperation and partnership, as the issues of mutual interest were mulled during Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf’s visit to Baku.
Azerbaijan and Djibouti have voiced commitment to further expand the existing cooperation and partnership, as the issues of mutual interest were mulled during Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf’s visit to Baku.
Youssouf who met with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on February 24, expressed his confidence that the visit will open up new opportunities between the two countries.
Mammadyarov, in turn, assessed the visit as an historic one, noting that it will open a new chapter in the bilateral relations.
The ministers discussed the current level of bilateral relations, issues on the agenda and prospects of the development of cooperation in various fields, noting the importance of expanding legal-treaty base, as well as enlarging the economic-trade relations between Azerbaijan and Djibouti.
They hailed the level of political relations, in particular fruitful cooperation within international organizations. The successful cooperation within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) between the two countries and joining of Djibouti to OIC Contact Group on Armenia's aggression against Azerbaijan was also noted.
The Djibouti minister stated that his country always stands by brotherly and friendly Azerbaijani people.
The sides emphasized that the favorable geographical and strategic position of both countries could provide more opportunities to strengthen further cooperation in the fields of air and sea transport. Cooperation has already been launched between Baku International Sea Trade Port and Djibouti Port, as well as Azerbaijan Airlines and relevant authorities of Djibouti.
Mammadyarov and Ali Youssouf voiced belief that the recent intensification of contacts between the two countries will contribute to the bilateral cooperation.
Noting that the Azerbaijani president signed a decree on declaring the year of 2017 the “Year of Islamic Solidarity” in Azerbaijan, Mammadyarov stressed that this year Azerbaijan is going to host the “Islamic Solidarity Games”.
He expressed hopes for the active participation of Djibouti athletes in the Games scheduled for May 12-22.
The sides also discussed the cooperation in humanitarian area and issues for the development of parliamentary relations. Cooperation in the fields of medicine, exchange of students and training of professionals in certain areas were also among the discussed topics.
Following the meeting ministers signed the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultations between Foreign Ministries.
Azerbaijan is making a huge contribution to Islamic solidarity, and declaration of 2017 as the Year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan is a vivid proof of that, said Ali Youssouf while addressing a press-conference following the meeting.
The minister further said that his country is interested in developing comprehensive cooperation with Azerbaijan, and the great distance between the two countries shouldn’t be a problem for this.
“Cooperation in cargo transportation is being discussed currently,” Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said, noting that through cooperation with Djibouti, Azerbaijan can enter the African market.
Elmar Mammadyarov, in turn, said that relations between Azerbaijan and Djibouti have been in the process of development for many years.
“Djibouti has always supported Azerbaijan’s position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” said Mammadyarov, mentioning that the Djiboutian parliament adopted a declaration condemning the Khojaly genocide.”
Mammadyarov further noted that the two countries need to raise the level of economic relations to the level of political relations.
Mammadyarov said Djibouti plans to sign an agreement on freight traffic with Azerbaijan. “There are plans to cooperate within the free economic zone in Djibouti,” he noted.
“The two countries also intend to develop cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, particularly, the education of Djiboutian youth at Azerbaijani universities is being discussed,” added Mammadyarov.
On the same day, President of CJSC Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) Jahangir Asgarov and Mahmoud Ali Youssouf signed a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in civil aviation.
The signed agreement will allow regular passenger and cargo transportation between the two countries, which, in turn, will contribute to the economic and cultural development of international relations.
Regular cargo flights from Baku to Djibouti are scheduled to start in late March - early April.
Jahangir Asgarov said that according to the agreement reached earlier at the meeting with President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh, up to 30 tons of Azerbaijani manufacturers' products under the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand will be transported on the first flight.
Presentation of Azerbaijani products to the new market will be a great stimulus for the start of mutual trade relations and increase of trade turnover between the two countries.