Aliyev, Merkel to focus on regional security, Caspian gas supplies.

BAKU, February 4 (Itar-Tass) - Bilateral cooperation and regional
security will top the agenda of the talks between German Chancellor Angela
Merkel and Azerbaijani President Ilkham Aliyev, who begins his three-day
visit to Germany on Thursday.
According to diplomatic sources, Aliyev and Merkel will discuss the
whole range of bilateral relations. It is not ruled out that they will
focus on the two countries' economic and energy cooperation.
In particular, they will focus on Caspian gas supplies to the EU,
participation of German companies in the projects to upgrade the republic'
s electric power network and banking systems and opportunities for
attracting Germany's investments into Azerbaijan's infrastructure projects.
On February 5, Aliyev will leave for Munich to take part in the
international security conference. On the sidelines of the event he will
hold several bilateral meetings, including that with James Steinberg, U.S.
Deputy Secretary of State. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement is
expected to be one of the themes of their talks.
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