Official Visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (July 9-13, 1994)


Relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one of the most prominent countries of the Islamic and Arab world, is very important in the foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Among other Arab countries the Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev paid his first offical visit to Saudi Arabia.

On July 9, the official visit of Heydar Aliyev at the invitation of King Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz-al Saud to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started.

At the meeting the Azerbaijani and Saudi Presidents came to a common conclusion on the perspectives of the relations between the two countries, and expressed their hopes for the establishment and development of these relations. They also exchanged views on situation in the Muslim and the whole world. Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz al-Saud condemned the agression of Armenia against Azerbaijan and stressed the importance of the withdrawal of the agressor from the occupied lands and restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.

On July 11, a press conference of the Azerbaijani President was held in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah. Heydar Aliyev stated in the press conference: «The custodian of the two holy cities King Fahd ibn Abdul Aziz al-Saud got interested in the past and current situation of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan. We talked broadly about the situation in the countries which were under the domination of the Soviet Union in the past. I gave information about the situation in the Caucases, on the ongoing war between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the agression of Armenia against Azerbaijan. Meetings with the custodian of the two holy cities and high officials of Saudi Arabia were very beneficial for the establishment and development of friendly relations betwen Azerbaijan and Saudi Arabia.»

Heydar Aliyev also met the heads of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Islamic Development Bank, visited Mecca and Medina. During the visit five agreements on the cooperation in economy, trade, investments, culture, youth issues and sports were signed, a joint statement was adapted related to the results of the visit.

The Azerbaijani President stressed the advantages of the mutual relations with Saudi Arabia and stated: «This visit differs from others, because Saudi Arabia occupies a characteristic place in the world, this country has a special place in the Islamic world and greatly influences the world politics. Cooperation of Azerbaijan with such a country and establishment of relations in the fields of politics, economy, science and culture is very important for the consolidation of the position of Azerbaijan in the world.»