BAKU: One-on-one meeting of Aliyev & Kuchma

Azer Tag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
June 3 2004

ONE-ON-ONE MEETING OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV AND
PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE LEONID KUCHMA
[June 03, 2004, 22:57:13]

President Leonid Kuchma and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had
a one-on-one meeting at the residence of the President of Ukraine on
3 June, AzerTAj correspondents reported.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked to President Leonid Kuchma for
invitation on a state visit to Ukraine and expressed hope that the
current visit would play important role in development of relations
between the two countries. Expressing his gratitude to the Ukrainian
leader for erection of monument to the national leader of Azerbaijan
people Heydar Aliyev in Kiev, Head of Azerbaijan State said that just
thanks to the efforts of President Heydar Aliyev President Leonid
Kuchma the bilateral relations between the two countries developed
speedy. As was noted the cooperation of the two countries in the
frame of international organizations is also high level. President
Ilham Aliyev also underlined his satisfaction with the economic links,
goods turnover and realization of joint projects.

Noting exclusive role of President Heydar Aliyev in development of
the relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, President Kuchma said
that he always remembers him.

Touching upon the prospects of the bilateral relations, the state visit
of President Ilham Aliyev and the documents to be signed, including
the joint Statement the Presidents will sign, President Leonid Kuchma
said that this visit would open a new phase in the bilateral relations.

During the meeting, discussed were issues of cooperation in the
trade-economic relations, including in transportation of the oil
and energy carriers to Europe, international problems, cooperation
issues in the frame of GUUAM, mutual links with the European Union
and NATO, and exchange views on political, socio-economic situation
in both countries. The Heads of State also focused settlement of the
Armenian-Azerbaijan, Nagorny Karabakh conflict. President Leonid
Kuchma stated that Ukraine adheres to peaceful resolution to the
problem, supports territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and would do
it henceforth.