President of Azerbaijan visited Finland

President Ilham Alijev of Azerbaijan together with spouse made an official visit to Finland on 28-30 May 2008. The official reception ceremonies and discussions with President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen took place at the Presidential palace on Thursday, 29 May. ”We have had long discussions both on the political situation in the Azerbaijan area and the situation in Europe at a larger scale. Environmental questions are nowadays always on the agenda. Our countries have a lot to give to each other in the ecological sector”, President Halonen stated at the press conference held in the Hall of Mirrors.

President Halonen and President Alijev in the Yellow Room. Copyright © Office of the President of the republic of Finland

”Our discussions were open and honest. I am pleased with our partnership that begun three years ago”, President Alijev said. President Halonen and Doctor Arajärvi made an official visit to Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus in September 2005.

The Presidents agreed that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Finland should be deepened, especially the economic relations. ”More contacts, more knowledge, deeper business connections”, President Alijev concluded. According to him, the countries’ financial cooperation has a lot of potential. Finnish knowledge has, according to President Halonen, possibilities especially in the fields of energy and the environment.

The conflict is not frozen

The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh was also discussed at the bilateral talks. According to President Halonen the parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan, have the primary responsibility for the resolution of the conflict. ”Support from the countries in the area as well as the international community is needed”, President Halonen said.

President Alijev underlined that the prolonged conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia is not a so called frozen conflict, since the negotiations are still going on. ”Azerbaijan is committed to a peaceful resolution and we believe it is the only way”, President Alijev said.

President Alijev also visited the Parliament and gave a lecture at the Paasikivi Society. On Friday, 30 May, Presidentti Alijev met Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and laid a wreath at the Hietaniemi cemetery.

Speech by President Halonen at the banquet for the state visit