AZERBAIJAN, NORWAY: RELATIONS DISCUSSED

Baku, March 4 (AzerTAc). Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Sweden, Norway and Finland Rafael Ibrahimov held a meeting with members of Norwegian Parliament Jean Petersen, Chairman of the Norwegian Defense Committee, Morten Hoglund, Head of the Norwegian Delegation in OSCE and Marita Naybakk, member of the delegation to NATO Parliamentary Assembly. The meeting was held on March 3 at the Norwegian Parliament.

Describing political and economical situation in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani Ambassador
underscored that realization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzrum oil
and gas projects, as well as the Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars railway project in
partnership with Georgia and Turkey is the evidence to friendship and cooperation
between the countries of the region.
The Nagorno Karabakh and seven surrounding regions were occupied by Armenia and over
one million ethnic Azerbaijanis were ousted from Karabakh, besides, Azerbaijani
historical and cultural monuments, towns and villages in Karabakh were destroyed,
Mr. Ibrahimov stressed. Touching upon the status of Armenian-Azerbaijani
negotiations on Nagorno Karabakh, the Ambassador said that the settlement of the
conflict could only be achieved on the basis of restoration of Azerbaijan's
territorial integrity.
Members of Norwegian Parliament said that it is necessary for both sides of the
conflict over Nagorno Karabakh to reach a peaceful settlement based on the
principles of international law. The MPs also underscored that they support
territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
The Azerbaijani Ambassador and Norwegian MPs also discussed foundation of
Norway-Azerbaijan friendship body attached to the Parliament of Norway.
Within the frames of his visit to Norway, Mr. Ibrahimov is expected to meet other
Norwegian officials and parliamentarians.