After the official welcoming ceremony, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy held a meeting in an expanded format with the participation of delegations.

President Ilham Aliyev said the visit by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy to Azerbaijan was an important indicator of partnership and friendship between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

Indicating that the relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union covered a number of issues, President Ilham Aliyev expressed his confidence that the visit by President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy to Azerbaijan would be successful. President Ilham Aliyev said the visit would enable the President of the European Council to get to know Azerbaijan better.

President Ilham Aliyev gave a high assessment to the relations between Azerbaijan and European institutions, as well as the European Union, which is one of Azerbaijan’s key energy partners, and expressed his confidence that the visit by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, would give a further impetus to strengthening the partnership between Azerbaijan and the European Union.

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said he was pleased to come to Azerbaijan. Pointing to good relations between Azerbaijan and the European Union, he said that along with economic and energy cooperation, there was a good potential for the development of relations in various other areas.

The President of the European Council said the visit would open up extensive opportunities for a further development of bilateral relations.