Japan-Azerbaijan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
June 17, 2009
Japanese
On June 17 (Wed), from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 pm, Mr. Hirofumi Nakasone, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and hosted a dinner for him at Iikura House. The outline of the meeting is as follows. A Joint Press Statement on the Japan-Azerbaijan Foreign Ministerial Meeting was issued after the meeting.
- Opening Remarks
Mr. Nakasone welcomed Mr. Mammadyarov’s visit to Japan, and said that this visit will contribute to further develop the bilateral relationship between the two countries on top of the existing active discussions that have been conducted between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries as well as the Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Joint Meetings.
- Bilateral relations
(1) Both ministers expressed their high evaluation of the fact that a favorable relationship is being maintained between Japan and Azerbaijan both politically and economically.
(2) Mr. Nakasone expressed his hope that Azerbaijan’s steady economic growth and stability would contribute to the stability and development of the Caucasus region.
(3) Mr. Mammadyarov explained Azerbaijan’s efforts for economic reform and expressed his gratitude for the support that Japan has provided so far.
(4) Both ministers exchanged their views on the importance and the possibilities for cooperation in the fields of environment conservation and education.
- Regional and international affairs
(1) Both ministers stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, through various channels including the OSCE Minsk Group, based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, and the inviolability of the country’s internationally-recognized borders.
(2) Both ministers also exchanged opinions about issues related to North Korea and Iran.
- Cooperation in the international arena
Mr. Nakasone reaffirmed Japan’s basic stance in regard to the issue of United Nations Security Council reform, and thanked Azerbaijan for its support for Japan’s permanent membership of the Security Council. Both ministers decided to work together for an early realization of the reform, including the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council.
- Lastly, Mr. Mammadyarov invited Mr. Nakasone to visit Azerbaijan. Mr. Nakasone thanked him for the invitation, and replied that he would like to visit the country if the situation allowed.
(END)
Related Information (Japan-Azerbaijan Relations)