Azernews, 13 April 2005

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has stated that his country will always support Azerbaijan's position on the Garabagh conflict.

"Pakistan has always supported and will continue supporting Azerbaijan's fair position on the Upper Garabagh conflict on all levels", Musharraf told a news briefing following his meeting with President Ilham Aliyev in Islamabad on Tuesday, 12 April 2005.

The two presidents also discussed political and economic relations, as well as issues relating to combat against terrorism, economic ties and joint projects.

President Aliyev highly valued Pakistan's support for Azerbaijan's stance. He mentioned that the four resolutions passed by the United Nations back in 1993 on the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories have not been implemented, noting that no mechanisms have been developed for their implementation thus far.

Aliyev said Pakistan plays a great role in fighting international terrorism, pointing out the importance of common positions of world countries on the issue.

Touching upon the acts of terror perpetrated by Armenian terrorist organizations in Azerbaijan, the Azeri President said anti-terror combat would be efficient only after different-standard approaches are eliminated.

The two presidents said that despite advanced economic ties, trade relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan need to be improved. The commodities turnover between the two countries currently amounts to only $1,750,000.

6 documents covering finance, culture, aviation, education, communications and information technologies are to be signed during President Aliyev's two-day visit to Pakistan.