At his joint press conference with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Baku, President Victor Yushchenko praised high level of relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
“Today we have affirmed strategic nature of relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan. The questions we have discussed today at the first meeting of the Council of Presidents, including 2009-2010 Cooperation Action Plan, show that the development of the relations is substantial.”, - he said.
According to President Yushchenko most of the attention sides have dedicated to discussing trade-economic and energy cooperation. Pointing to negative influence of global financial-economic crisis on trade-economic ties between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, he however said that he is optimistic about their further development.
Speaking about energy cooperation President Yushchenko informed that transit of Azerbaijani gas to the countries of the European Union was discussed. Foreign Ministries of the two states will conduct consultations in the nearest future on forming a common position on the question, he said.
Also Victor Yushchenko said that transport cooperation was discussed, particularly implementation of such projects as joining Viking and Poti-Baku-Aktau- Almaty railway transit routs by ferry transport route between Ukraine and Georgia.
Beside that according to Victor Yushchenko sides dedicated attention to discussing Eastern Partnership incentive.
From his part President Ilham Aliyev stressed assurance that the visit of President Victor Yushchenko to Azerbaijan would give a new impulse to development of bilateral relations between the states. “The strategic partnership between our states is continuing successfully and these relations correspond with Azerbaijan’s national interests. We consider Ukraine one of our most reliable partners”, - he said thanking also President Yushchenko for his visit and expressing assurance that today’s agreements would be implemented well.
