Baku. 29 November. REPORT.AZ/ Azerbaijan and South Africa are ready to sign 7 memorandums, which will cover various areas, including air transport.

Report informs, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa Maite Nkoana-Mashabene said at a briefing on a visit to Azerbaijan.

She also noted that South Africa is interested in raising diplomatic consultations with Azerbaijan to the inter-state level: "This visit has substantive results on which we can continue to work."

Answering the question of reporters, M. Nkoane-Mashabane also said that South Africa plans to open a diplomatic mission in Baku.</s>Baku [Azerbaijan], Apr 4 (ANI): India and Azerbaijan on Wednesday agreed for a global and concerted action to combat terrorism, stating that both sides had zero tolerance on the issue.

At a joint press meet with her Azerbaijani counterpart, Elmar Mammadyarov, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj said, "India and Azerbaijan shared the view that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations is a global scourge that requires global action in the spirit of zero tolerance, including by rooting out terrorist safe havens, disrupting terrorist networks, and financing channels and halting cross-border movement of terrorists."

She underlined that New Delhi was seeking to consolidate and strengthening its relations with Baku in various sectors.

"The Government of India is committed to working closely with the Government of Azerbaijan to build a reliable, strong, vibrant and mutually beneficial partnership," Swaraj continued.

Stressing on the close relations between the two countries, the EAM said that New Delhi and Baku enjoyed warm and friendly relations based on historical and cultural ties, adding that both the countries shared the values of democracy, respect for plurality and multiculturalism.

Acknowledging that India was the fastest-growing economy in the world, Swaraj added, "India has emerged as the fastest-growing large economy in the world. It is a global hub for manufacturing and innovation. Under Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's leadership, India is strongly committed to improving the ease of doing business environment."

Swaraj underscored that India was helping Azerbaijan in developing infrastructure, reforming the business environment and promoting skill and education and economic development respectively.

She further said that Azerbaijan has invited Indian companies to set up joint ventures for the production of pharmaceuticals and medical products in the country's Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The EAM stated that New Delhi and Baku were keen to expand their cooperation in the field of agriculture and a project for women empowerment by setting up of self-help groups in Azerbaijan.

On enhancing people-to-people contact, Swaraj said, "Both India and Azerbaijan introduced electronic visa system for each other's nationals last year. Since its introduction in April 2017, more than 500 nationals from Azerbaijan have availed the facility."

The EAM concluded her statement as saying that both the countries were calling for a global action to address climate change and was looking forward to make the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) ministerial meeting a great success.

Swaraj is on a three-day visit to the Central Asian country to attend the NAM mid-term ministerial conference, having arrived earlier on Wednesday.

The conference will be held in Baku on April 5 to 6 under the theme of "Promoting international peace and security for sustainable development".

The MEA said in a statement, "As a founding member of NAM, India remains committed to the purposes and principles of the movement. External Affairs Minister's participation in the NAM ministerial meeting will underline India's continued active and constructive engagement within the movement with a view to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation among its member states."

Swaraj also met with the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev at the President's Palace in Baku on Wednesday and held a bilateral meeting with the latter to discuss ways of strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries in various sectors.

The two sides discussed on how to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, connectivity and transportation, culture and tourism, pharmaceuticals, energy and other sectors. (ANI)</s>Baku. 12 June. REPORT.AZ/ A meeting between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and Foreign Minister of Estonia Sven Mikser is being held in Baku.

Report informs, during the meetings, prospects for the development of the Azerbaijani-Estonian relations, topical regional issues, cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU, including the Eastern Partnership Summit will be discussed.

Notably, S. Mikser arrived today with an official visit to Azerbaijan.

On June 13, S. Mikser will pay a visit to Armenia.</s>External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday arrived here on a three-day visit to Azerbaijan during which she will hold talks with top leadership of the country and attend a meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement. “Welcome with flowers! EAM @SushmaSwaraj arrives in Baku to a warm welcome on her first visit to Azerbaijan. India and Azerbaijan share warm and friendly relations based on civilisational and cultural ties,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

This is also the first-ever bilateral visit of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Azerbaijan, reports PTI. During her visit, Swaraj will hold talks with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov and call on President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva. A range of issues, including ways to boost bilateral cooperation between India and Azerbaijan, are expected to be discussed during her talks with leadership of that country.

READ: Why is Sushma Swaraj going to Azerbaijan’s capital Baku today?

Swaraj will also represent India at the mid-term ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which will take place on April 5 and 6 in Baku. “As a founding member of NAM, India remains committed to the purposes and principles of the Movement,” Kumar said. “The External Affairs Minister’s participation in the NAM Ministerial Meeting will underline India’s continued active and constructive engagement within the movement with a view to further strengthen solidarity and cooperation among its member states,” the Ministry of External Affairs had earlier said.

Bilateral ties between India and Azerbaijan have grown in many areas, including energy, transportation, and capacity building. India’s ONGC-Videsh is an investor in ACG oil fields and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

For all the latest World News, download Indian Express App</s>Report was informed in the press service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).

At the meeting Minister Elmar Mammadyarov expressed satisfaction with the high level development of friendly and strategic partnership relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia in all spheres. Noting that both countries share the same perspectives on regional issues, support each other within the international organizations, Minister Elmar Mammadyarov stressed the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of economy, transport and energy between our countries.

Speaking about four-party meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and Georgia to be held in Baku on March 15, the Minister Mammadyarov said that this meeting would be a new format that will give impetus to the comprehensive development of regional cooperation between our countries.

Expressing satisfaction with his visit to Azerbaijan, Levan Izoria stated that he had very interesting and fruitful meeting with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Levon Izoria said that strategic partnership and friendship ties of two countries play an important role for the regional stability and noted that there are extensive relations and comprehensive action plan in the field of defense as well.

At the meeting, also noted that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia in the field of defense and security serves to ensure regional peace and stability, as well as the effective safety of large-scale transport and energy projects with the participation of our countries.

Noting that the two countries' views on regional issues are overlapping and support each other within international organizations, the Foreign Minister stressed the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries in economic, transport and energy spheres.

Touching upon the quadripartite meeting of Azerbaijani, Iranian, Turkish and Georgian foreign ministers to be held in Baku on March 15, the minister said that this meeting was a new format that would give impetus to the comprehensive development of regional cooperation between our countries.

Expressing satisfaction with his visit to Azerbaijan, Levan Izoria said that he had a very interesting and useful meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. He noted that strategic partnership and friendship are important for the stability of the region. Minister emphasized the existence of a broad range of bilateral relations and a comprehensive program of activities in the field of defense.

At the meeting it was noted that cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia in the field of defense and security contribute to regional peace and stability, particularly effective organization of security of large-scale transport and energy projects with the participation of our countries.</s>Baku. 30 November. REPORT.AZ/ Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Minister of State for External Affairs of India Mobashar Javed Akbar, who is on a visit to Azerbaijan to participate in the VII Ministerial Conference to be held in Baku within the framework of the "Heart of Asia" - Istanbul Process, Report informs.

It was noted that the year of 2017 is marked by the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and India, and in this regard, the importance of exchanging mutual high-level visits for promoting bilateral political relations, as well as continuation of the mechanism of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs was emphasized.



They also exchanged views on cooperation within international and regional organizations.



Minister Elmar Mammadyarov informed the guest about the latest status of the negotiation process on the settlement of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and stated that the conflict should be solved only within the territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan on the basis of the UN Security Council resolutions.



Stressing the need for expanding bilateral economic relations, the sides noted good opportunities for cooperation in investment, information technology, energy, agriculture, construction, pharmacy and other spheres. In this regard, the activity of Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of India was particularly emphasized.



It was also stressed that joining of India to the North-South transport corridor would give impetus to the strengthening of economic cooperation between the two countries. In this regard, the importance of the meetings of the Coordinating Council on the project was highlighted.



At the meeting, sides commended "The Heart of Asia" - the Istanbul Process as an important platform for strengthening regional dialogue and building trust.</s>Baku. 13 April. REPORT.AZ/ Russia and Azerbaijan are traditional partners that have trade relations in such traditional areas as agriculture and food.

Report informs, Russia's trade representative in Azerbaijan Eldar Tlyabichev has said during a speech at the event of the business mission of Gazprombank in Baku.

"At the moment, there is an active process of searching for new areas of cooperation between our countries," said E. Tlyabichev.

According to him, last year the trade turnover between the countries amounted to 2 bln USD, which is less than the peak indicators of 2014.

"The economies of our countries have already adapted after the crisis, there is a revival, including in the investment environment. For 25 we have signed about 30 trade and economic agreements", the Russian trade representative said, adding that Russia is interested in an active economic dialogue with Azerbaijan.

"This year is a jubilee in our diplomatic relations and we have reached this stage with a solid foundation for building mutually beneficial and constructive relations", Tlyabichev noted.</s>Baku. 21 November. REPORT.AZ/ New season of Azerbaijan Fashion Week will be held in November.

Report informs, it was said at a press conference today.

The event will be supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism: "Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Georgia, France and Russia will be represented at the event. 15 designers' collection will be shown during the Fashion Week.

Notably, the four-day event will take place at Stone Chronicle Museum at 19:00 Baku time.</s>Baku. 3 January. REPORT.AZ/ Due to the heavy snow and ice on roads buses coming from northern regions of Azerbaijan arriving Baku late than proposed schedule.

Report was told by the head of department of Baku International Bus Station complex Mahammad Abdullayev.

He noted that the heavy snow has created certain problems in Agsu pass and bus drivers are not allowed to use that road. According to M. Abdullayev bus drivers are using an alternative way to the northern regions: Currently drivers are taking advantage of Kurdamir road.

He added that, buses are operating from Baku to the regions under the schedule on January 3 and density observed in Baku International Bus Terminal.</s>Baku. 17 June. REPORT.AZ/ President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received Senator of the Kingdom of Belgium, chairperson of PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, rapporteur on human rights in Azerbaijan Alain Destexhe.

Report informs, Senator Alain Destexhe congratulated the head of state on the start of Formula 1 Grand Prix of Europe in Azerbaijan. Emphasizing the increasing interest in Formula 1 races around the world, Alain Destexhe said his country would also host the European Grand Prix. He said he visited Azerbaijan to monitor the repeat parliamentary elections in Constituency No.90 in Agdash.

Saying Baku was a new country on the map of Formula 1, the head of state expressed his confidence that the race would be interesting for visitors and create good opportunities for them to better familiarize themselves with the country and get more information about development processes in Azerbaijan.

The sides exchanged views on prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Council of Europe.
At a summit in Baku, India and Azerbaijan discuss cooperation in areas including counterterrorism, agriculture, infrastuctural development, women's rights, and trade.