Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dačić has hailed his country`s developing relations with Azerbaijan. "During the past years, along with strengthening of brotherly relations and mutual respect, a stable foundation for long-term and close cooperation has been built between the two countries," said FM Dačić as he had an exchange of congratulatory letters with his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Serbian FM hailed the traditionally friendly relations between Serbia and Azerbaijan based on the principles of equality and mutual trust that are developing at a high level of strategic partnership.

Ivica Dačić expressed his hope that through joint efforts mutual cooperation between the two countries will continue to develop successfully in a variety of areas.

The Serbian minister also thanked the Azerbaijani government for supporting the preservation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia.

In his letter addressed to his Serbian counterpart, FM Mammadyarov said that the last 20 years were remembered by steady development of relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia in political, economic, scientific, cultural and humanitarian fields.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said that during these years Azerbaijan and Serbia have enjoyed mutual support within international organizations. In this regard, the Azerbaijani FM expressed his gratitude for Serbia`s principled position on the soonest settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

FM Mammadyarov noted that the signing of the declaration on "Friendly Relations and Strategic Partnership" on February 8, 2013, saw relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia enter a new level. He added that the declaration will open up new prospects for deepening Azerbaijan-Serbia cooperation and expressed his confidence that the goals set out in the document will be successfully implemented in the years to come.

AZERTAC