Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan A. Azimov Pays Courtesy Call on Foreign Minister Taro Aso

June 29, 2007

On June 27, Mr. Taro Aso, Minister for Foreign Affairs, received a courtesy call from Mr. Araz Azimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, who is now visiting Japan, for about 15 minutes from 3:45 p.m.

Mr. Aso said that it was useful as the first step of dialog between Japan and the GUAM countries that Mr. Mitoji Yabunaka, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, had attended the first ‘GUAM + Japan’ meeting held in Baku. Mr. Azimov said that he was grateful for the dispatch of Mr. Yabunaka and wanted to deepen dialog between Japan and the GUAM countries, including the possibility of holding foreign minister’s meetings.

Mr. Azimov said that Azerbaijan highly valued the ‘Arc of Freedom and Prosperity,’ the brainchild of Mr. Aso, as it met with the strategic interest of Azerbaijan, which connects Asia with Europe, and fully supported the concept. Citing how Japan’s cooperation had contributed to the economic success of Asian countries, Mr. Aso said that Azerbaijan had been achieving rapid economic growth with its rich oil resources but rapid growth might cause problems. He also stated that Japan could share its experience with Azerbaijan and that to place importance on education was a key. In response, Mr. Azimov said that although Japan was poor in natural resources, it had human resources, which were most important, and that they could learn much from Japan. He also stated that he wanted to continue dialog and cooperation with Japan in such fields as the fight against terrorism, national security, science and technology, and transportation infrastructure.

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