Speaking at a joint press conference with the visiting Albanian President Bajram Begaj in Baku, Aliyev voiced optimism that Begaj’s visit will further enhance bilateral cooperation between Albania and Azerbaijan.

“We will have the feasibility study on the gasification of Albania ready by the end of this year. And after that we will immediately kick off the investment to build a gas distribution network,” Aliyev said.

Aliyev also said that opening of Azerbaijani embassy in Tirana demonstrates very strong mutual political will.

“I’m also very glad that we have now embassy in Tirana. And our embassy in Tirana already started its activity,” President Ilham Aliyev said in a press statement following an expanded meeting with President of Albania Bajram Begaj.

The head of state noted that it demonstrates that there is a very strong mutual political will to develop bilateral ties.

Aliyev expressed gratitude for Albania’s support for the international bodies where Azerbaijan is not present.

“I already expressed my gratitude to Mr. President and the Government of Albania for support to Azerbaijan during the last year’s Francophonie Summit, where there was an attempt by one member state of Francophonie to pass the paragraph and to include the paragraph into a final document – a paragraph of anti-Azerbaijani substance. And Albania was the country, which blocked that,” Aliyev said .

“And that was the demonstration of friendship, demonstration of strong commitment to basic principles of international law, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the countries. So even in the organizations, where Azerbaijan cannot defend itself, we have brother like Albania who did it. And we’re very grateful for that,” he said.

/u.sh/