Official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to of Ukraine (March 24-25, 1997)


Cooperation with Ukraine, one of the largest countries in Europe, in terms of area and population, is of great importance for Azerbaijan. Having relations with Azerbaijan, which possesses rich natural resources and a favorable geographical and political position, is significant for Ukraine, too. Azerbaijan is a favorable economic and trade bridge, as well as a reliable political bridge between Ukraine and the Eastern countries.

Ukraine and Azerbaijan are allies. The mutual relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine are well established both in the form of bilateral cooperation and within the framework of international organizations, such as GUAM,  TRACECA, the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization.

The official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to Ukraine in March 1997 played an important role in establishing a legal basis for the mutual cooperation and raising the relations to a strategic level. Talking about the importance of the visit prior to his departure, Heydar Aliyev said to the journalists: “I expect development of the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani relations in all the directions and spheres. We own a wide range of opportunities to develop cooperation in the sphere of economy, science and technology, education. A number of interstate documents on these issues has been prepared and we are going to sign them. Shortly, we have high expectations from this visit.”

On the first day of the visit, the Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev met his Ukrainian counterpart Leonid Kuchma. The two leaders discussed mutual relations, cooperation opportunities, as well as the problems which their countries face in Europe and in the CIS.

On the same day, a ceremony of signature of the documents took place. Seventeen documents on economic, political, cultural and other spheres were signed. The most important of them is the agreement on friendship, cooperation and partnership, which demonstrates the strategic nature of relations between the two countries. After the ceremony, the presidents made ​​statements for the press.

On March 24, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev was awarded with Yaroslav Mudry Order, the highest award of Ukraine. Heydar Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the award and noted that he would further strive for the development of these relations.

During the visit, President Heydar Aliyev also met and exchanged views with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Lazarenko, Foreign Minister Udovenko, the first deputy chairman of the parliament Tkachenko.

On March 25, at the city council of Kiev, Heydar Aliyev was presented a diploma “guest of honor” and the symbolic key of Kiev.

On March 25, a joint press conference of the presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine was held. Speaking about the results of the visit, Heydar Aliyev said: “My official visit to Ukraine is coming to an end. While leaving for the airport, I feel very pleased for this visit, its friendly environment, our discussions and decisions on the further development of cooperation between the two countries.

On the same day, President Heydar Aliyev met the representatives of the Azerbaijani Diaspora in Ukraine, learned about their lives and problems.

The official visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to the Republic of Ukraine gave a strong impetus to the development of mutual relations between the two countries.