BAKU: PM receives Italian delegation

AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 25 2004

PRIME MINISTER RECEIVES ITALIAN DELEGATION
[November 25, 2004, 17:31:49]

On 25 November, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade received
the Italian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Margherita
Boniver.

During the meeting, the parties exchanged views on the prospects of
the Azerbaijani-Italian economic cooperation and touched upon the
problem of peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Prime Minister of Azerbaijan noted that Italy is a leader in
Azerbaijan’s foreign trade turnover, but expressed regret about law
level of Italian investments in the economy of Azerbaijan. Our
country is very interested in attraction of Italian investors and
their active involvement in global transport projects.

Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Margherita Boniver for her part
pointed out that the agreements on establishment of the
Italy-Azerbaijan Economic council and joint Chamber of Commerce and
Industry signed during this would strengthen economic cooperation
between the two countries.

Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh problem, Prime
Minister Artur Rasizade recalled that during her visit to Yerevan,
the Italian diplomat stated on Italy’s abstention while voting at the
UN General Assembly on the situation in the occupied territories of
Azerbaijan. He stressed in this connection, that it is Azerbaijan not
Armenia that was subjected to the aggression, expatriation of
peaceful population and occupation of its lands.

It is these factors that should be kept in mind in the first place
while discussing the issue, he said.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador of Italy to Azerbaijan Mrs.
Margherita Costa.