Greek President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias on Monday received the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, who is on an official visit to Greece. They held talks on ways to further develop bilateral relations between Greece and Azerbaijan.

Private talks between the two presidents were preceded by an official ceremony of welcome, where the government was represented by Culture Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Merchant Marine & Island Policy Minister Panagiotis Kammenos. There was then a meeting with the full delegations of the Greek and Azeri sides attending.

This culminated in the signature of four bilateral agreements: one for avoiding double taxation and preventing tax evasion, which was signed by Greek Deputy Finance Minister Antonis Bezas and Azeri Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov; a flight services agreement signed by Deputy Transport Minister Mihalis Bekiris and Azerbaijan Airlines general director Jakhangir Askerov; an infotech and communications agreement signed by Bekiris and the Azeri Communications and Information Technology Minister Ali Abbasov; and finally a memorandum of understanding in renewable energy sources and energy efficiency sectors, signed by Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis and Azeri Minister of Energy and Industries Natiq Aliyev.

In statements afterward, Papoulias said the two countries gave priority to energy issues, investments, trade and cooperation in cultural and educational matters. He said the talks with Aliyev had also focused on Azerbaijan's relations with the European Union, in the framework of strengthening the Community's relations with Baku.

Their talks also covered current affairs in the surrounding region, including the Caucasus, the Middle East, the Balkans and the Cyprus issue.

"I referred particularly to the Cyprus issue and stressed to the Azeri president the need to end the Turkish occupation of a large part of the territory of a European country," Papoulias said, while thanking Aliyev for his invitation to visit Azerbaijan, which he accepted.

Aliyev noted that he was the first president of Azerbaijan to carry out an official visit to Greece and emphasised the significance of the visit, expressing confidence that it would result in an improvement and new period of progress in bilateral relations.

He also emphasised the issue of energy security, saying that Azerbaijan had done a lot to give the rest of the world access to its considerable energy resources.

"The relationship that Greece is now developing with Azerbaijan will help in this direction. The issue of energy security is a major priority of the international community and Azerbaijan is making every effort to increase the energy security of Europe. For over a year now, natural gas from Azerbaijan is reaching the Greek market. From there it comes into Europe. There is no doubt that much more could be done in this sector," Aliyev stressed.

Azerbaijan's president said a meeting between business people of the two countries on Tuesday would undoubtedly lead to a host of opportunities for business on both sides.

Aliyev also raised the issue of the Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijan's territory and the over one million refugees and internally displaced persons in the country that resulted from this conflict.

"In order to resolve this conflict there must be absolute respect for the principle of territorial integrity and international law. I believe that if Armenia respects this principle, the issue will be resolved," Aliyev said.

Caption: The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Athens on Monday, Feb. 16, 2009. ANA-MPA / S. PANTZARTZI.