Ilham Aliyev visited the Ljubljana Mayor’s Office

Within the framework of the official visit to Slovenia, President Ilham Aliyev visited the Ljubljana Mayor’s Office on 9 June.

The President of Azerbaijan was met by Ljubljana Mayor Zoran Jankovic outside the Mayor’s Office.

After welcoming President Ilham Aliyev, Zoran Jankovic recalled visiting Baku as a businessman seven years ago. He said he would do his best to develop cooperation between Baku and Ljubljana.

Congratulating Azerbaijan on winning the Eurovision-2011 Song Contest, the Ljubljana Mayor said a number of Slovenian art figures would travel to Azerbaijan next year.

The head of state gave a high assessment to the work being done to develop the city of Ljubljana.

President Ilham Aliyev said Ljubljana had become even more beautiful and landscaped in the last several years, turning into a beautiful European city.

“I can see that both the city administration and its residents have a great love of the city. The landscaping, improvement and restoration work is carried out here with a good taste. Overall, it is a very remarkable day today for the development of Slovenian-Azerbaijani relations. The meetings I have had today, the negotiations held and the activities due tomorrow will bring our countries even closer together. Our political relations are at a very high level, and these relations are strengthening by the day. At the same time, the business forum due tomorrow will have a strong impact on the development of economic relations as well. Because there is a great mutual interest and there are all the opportunities for joint work. At the same time, our inter-parliamentary relations are at a good level too, and I am pleased to see my long-time friend here. We have worked together in Strasbourg and have seen some very good days and had good discussions. Azerbaijan has now been a member of the Council of Europe for 10 years. But then we had just joined the Council of Europe and, of course, everything was new to us there. We wanted to integrate into the Council of Europe and secure our own place there as soon as possible. I remember you helping us a lot.

I would like to thank you for your congratulations on the victory of Azerbaijani youth in the Eurovision-2011 Song Contest. We are ready to host Slovenian guests, including you, Mr. Mayor, next year. But I hope you will come to Baku sooner than that and we can continue our relations. Thank you very much again for your hospitality.

The President of Azerbaijan signed the book of distinguished guests of the Mayor’s Office.