President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev paid an official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on July 19-24 at the invitation of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair. In his interview to the UK`s leading media on July 20, President Heydar Aliyev expressed his opinion about the trip: «My visit aims at improving the relations between Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom.»
On the same day President Heydar Aliyev met the Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for International Development George Foulkes, executive dorector of Shell company Phil Vahtsala, President of the Lazma Company John Durbell.
The UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Doug Henderson hosted an official reception in honor of President Heydar Aliyev on the second half of the day. Doug Henderson emphasized Azerbaijan`s strategic importance in the Caspian region, the UK`s interest in establishing strategic relations with Azerbaijan. In his meeting in London with the general director of the British Council Dr. David Drewery on the same day Heydar Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with close relations between the two countries. Afterwards he met the director general of the British company Monument Oil and Gas Tim Eggar and the executive director of the company Terry Adams.
Heydar Aliyev also attended the official reception hosted in his honor by the British-Azerbaijani Society.
On July 21, in his residence in London, President of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev received the International President of the magazine «First» Patrick Cormack. Later there was held a ceremony for signing an international agreement between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Bank of Azerbaijan on opening a bank-credit line. The ceremony was followed by the meeting of Heydar Aliyev with the President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Charles Frank.
On the same day in London President Heydar Aliyev was received by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, President Heydar Aliyev noted that further improvement of mutually beneficial relations between the two countries is very important for Azerbaijan. In her turn, Queen Elizabeth II expressed the British interest in Azerbaijan.
Afterwards Heydar Aliyev met Mrs. Margaret Beckett, the UK Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, chairwoman of the Chamber of Trade.
On the second half of the day, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Heydar Aliyev met the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Tony Blair. Noting that the level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Great Britain is good, the Prime Minister said that he attaches great importance to the continuous development of economic and political relations between the two countries.
Appreciating the interest of the UK and the views of Tony Blair in the cooperation with Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev mentioned that he is satisfied with the level of cooperation and will do his best to further develop these relations.
The meeting was followed by a ceremony of the signature of the documents. President Heydar Aliyev and Prime Minister Tony Blair signed the Joint Declaration on friendly relations and partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In addition, an exploration, development and production sharing agreement on the Araz, Alov and Sharg deposits in the Azerbaijani Sector of the Caspian Sea was signed by BP (Great Britain), Statoil (Norway) and SOCAR (Azerbaijan). An exploration, development and production sharing agreement on the Inam deposit was signed by AMOCO (USA), Monument Oil and Gas (Great Britain), Central Fuel (Russia), SOCAR (Azerbaijan). Ramco (Great Britain) and SOCAR (Azerbaijan) concluded an exploration, development and production sharing agreement on onshore oil deposits Muradkhanli and Jafarli, the perspective Zardab structure.
On the same day in his London residence President Heydar Aliyev met the State Minister of the Department of Trade and Industry John Batt. Considering his negotiations with the British Queen and the Prime Minister as the most significant events of his official visit, Heydar Aliyev said that the documents signed by him and Tony Blair would play an important role in the further development of the relations.
Heydar Aliyev\'s official visit to the United Kingdom was in the focus of attention of media attention. On July 21, Heydar Aliyev gave an interview to a reporter of BBC, the leading British TV channel. The interview was aired on BBC that evening.
On the same day the Lord Mayor of London, Richard Nichols hosted an official reception in honor of Heydar Aliyev.
In his speech on July 22 at an international conference «Business in Azerbaijan» organized at Royal Garden Hotel by ABC company and attended by over 300 delegates from different countries, Heydar Aliyev noted that businesspeople are welcome to launch business in Azerbaijan which provides all favorable conditions for businesses.
On the same day, at the Embassy of the Azerbaijan, President Heydar Aliyev met the representatives of the Azerbaijani community in the UK. Later Heydar Aliyev also met the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Robin Cook. The British official said that his country would support Azerbaijan`s admission to the Council of Europe.
Within the frames of his official visit to the UK, Heydar Aliyev also visited Edinburgh on July 23. President Aliyev met the Lord Provost of Edinburgh Eric Milligan, attended the industrial and manufacturing complex in Grangemouth. Later he met the representatives of business circles of Scotland.
On the same day the President of Azerbaijan met the Azerbaijanis living in Edinburgh. He underlined the importance of forming and strengthening the Azerbaijani diaspora, combining the efforts to inform the world community about Azerbaijan.
On July 24, Heydar Aliyev partook at the newly opened exhibition at the Cultural Center of Azerbaijan in London.