Official Reception in the British Embassy

The United Kingdom attaches great importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan and the year 2012 was notable for the execution of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This idea was expressed by the Ambassador of Great Britain to Azerbaijan Peter Bateman on September 26 at a reception at the Four Seasons Hotel on the occasion of the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The Ambassador also mentioned as an important event of the year the beginning of a non-permanent membership of Azerbaijan to the UN Security Council. He expressed a hope for further expansion and deepening of the bilateral relations.

In turn, the Minister of Communications and Information Technologies, Ali Abbasov noted the UK contribution over the past twenty years in the country's economic development, especially in the energy sector. However, he stressed BP participated in the exploration and development of oil and gas resources.

As Abbasov noted, the bilateral relations have developed in other areas of political, cultural, educational, and humanitarian development. The Minister also noted that a number of Azerbaijani students receive higher education in British universities.

He expressed a hope for further development of the bilateral relations in all fields. -0 -