Azerbaijan, Ukraine hold political consultations

Baku, May 4, AZERTAC Bilateral political consultations have been held between the ministries of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Azerbaijan was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Khalaf Khalafov, while Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vasyl Bodnar chaired the Ukrainian side. Mr. Khalafov stressed the importance of holding the regular political consultations in terms of further development of relations between the two countries. The Deputy FM said both countries are strategic partners, adding Azerbaijan is interested in developing bonds with Ukraine in overall fields. Vasyl Bodnar, in turn, said Ukraine attaches great importance to further strengthening strategic partnership with Azerbaijan. He expressed confidence that trilateral political consultations to be held between the Foreign ministries of Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Turkey will play an important role in this regard. The sides noted political dialogue held on the level of the heads of states of both countries will give a strong push to dynamical development of bonds. Mr. Khalafov said there is wide potential for developing economic cooperation between the two countries and stressed the role of Joint Intergovernmental Commission in this regard. Mr. Khalafov also informed his Ukrainian counterpart about the North-South, East-West, South-West transport routes, as well as TAP, TANAP projects and Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway which are carried out under the initiative of Azerbaijan. They exchanged views on negotiations process over the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The parties also touched upon the cooperation in the humanitarian, scientific, educational and tourism fields.