Azerbaijani, Ethiopian foreign ministries sign MoU

Baku, November 10, AZERTAC The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Consultation. The document was signed by Azerbaijan`s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Workneh Gebeyehu. Prior to the signing ceremony, the ministers had a bilateral meeting. The FMs hailed the development of relations during latest years between Azerbaijan and Ethiopia, and stressed that high-level visits give substantial contribution to the bilateral cooperation. In this regards, Workneh Gebeyehu praised Elmar Mammadyarov`s visit and noted the importance of increasing of contacts at various levels between the two countries. Mammadyarov invited his Ethiopian counterpart to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. Workneh Gebeyehu accepted invitation. The sides reviewed the current status of relations and issues on the agenda between the two countries. They stressed the importance of expansion of legal-treaty base for the development of bilateral cooperation. The two ministers mentioned the significance of development of cooperation within the international organizations and noted that both countries have similar position on the issues of international agenda. Reviewing the ways for development of economic-trade relations between the two countries, the ministers agreed on the organization of the visit of the business delegation of Azerbaijan to Ethiopia and holding joint business forums for the promotion relations between the two countries and direct contacts between the business circles. Elmar Mammadyarov noting the transportation of cargoes from Azerbaijan to Djibouti and other African countries by airlines, the prospects of North-South transport corridor connecting South Asia and Northern Europe added that that there is potential for the cooperation in the fields of transport and logistics between the two countries. They also exchanged views on the ways of development of cooperation in the fields of humanitarian affairs and education between the two countries. Noting that the number of Ethiopian students studied in Azerbaijan in various disciplines, the sides expressed the importance of continuing the established relationship to this end. FM Mammadyarov informed his interlocutor about negotiations process on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, steps taken by the country for the conflict resolution in accordance with the norms and principles of international law in conjunction with the international community and the Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. Following the meeting, the Azerbaijani FM answered the questions of local media about his visit to Ethiopia and his fruitful meetings.