AUSTRIAN, AZERBAIJANI FOREIGN MINISTERS DISCUSS ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Die Presse, Vienna
8 Sep 05
Text of report by “hd” entitled “Diplomacy before the match”, published
by Austrian newspaper Die Presse on 8 September
Vienna: “I am glad I came to Vienna on the day of the soccer
match between Austria and Azerbaijan (for the world championship
qualification in Baku – the editor) and not the day after”,
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov joked after working
talks with his Austrian counterpart Ursula Plassnik in Vienna on
Wednesday [7 September].
While bilateral relations were classified as “very good” by both
sides, as expected, Mammadyarov was “not quite satisfied with the
extent of economic cooperation”. He hopes, in particular, for an
increase in investments. “We are planning quite a few things in the
economic field”, Plassnik said, supporting him. The Austrian foreign
minister cited as an important issue of the talks the action plan
for Azerbaijan within the framework of European neighbourhood policy,
which is coordinated by EU Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
By “supporting smaller initiatives in the nongovernmental field”,
Austria wants to contribute to settling the conflict between Armenia
and Azerbaijan over Nagornyy Karabakh. The Armenian enclave seceded
from Baku in 1991, which has, however, not been recognized at the
international level. Despite some progress, it is still a long way
until the conflict can be settled, Mammadyarov said.