NEW AZERBAIJAN PARTY

Azerbaijan`s Minister of Foreign Affairs Elmar Mammadyarov has met Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Tomasz Orlowski.

They praised the current state of relations between the two countries.

Tomasz Orlowski hailed the role of Azerbaijan in ensuring the stability and security in the Southern Caucasus region.

He lauded Azerbaijan`s contribution to NATO operations to protect international peace and security.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that Azerbaijan was also contributing to the stability in and beyond the region through the energy and infrastructure projects as well as the mutually beneficial cooperation network. Noting the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the "Contract of the Century" on September 20, FM Mammadyarov highlighted the groundbreaking ceremony dedicated to the broadening of the Southern Gas Corridor and launching of Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline.

Mammadyarov noted that the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains the major threat to the security of the region, adding the current status-quo is unacceptable as mentioned at different levels by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. The FM noted that for the settlement of the conflict, first and foremost, Armenian armed forces must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan.

While discussing the relations with the European Union, the sides stressed the importance of developing relations within the Eastern Partnership considering the different interests and capabilities of the states.

Stressing that Azerbaijan has a strategic partnership in energy sector with the European Union, Minister Mammadyarov expressed intention of Azerbaijan in building strategic partnership ties with EU in other fields as well.

At the meeting, the sides had an exchange of views on regional and other issues of common interest.