Protocol signing strengthens SL's ties with Azerbaijan - GL

The signing of the Protocol on Co-operation between the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry and Azerbaijan Foreign Ministry will pave the way for a regular dialogue and enhance bilateral co-operation both in the political and the economic sphere, Foreign Ministers of the two countries noted during discussions at the External Affairs Ministry in Colombo yesterday.

Azerbaijan as a current member of the United Nations Security Council, plays an important role in promoting global peace and security. Sri Lanka was pleased to support Azerbaijan's candidature for a two year term in the Security Council from January last year.

External Affair Minister Professor G L Peiris thanked his counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov for the support extended by Azerbaijan to Sri Lanka at the United Nations as well as in the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), of which Azerbaijan is a member.

Since rising levels of per capita income in Azerbaijan have resulted in increased interest in overseas travel, it is timely to explore avenues for attracting larger numbers of tourists from Azerbaijan to Sri Lanka, the ministers said.

They noted that there are regular direct flights between Colombo and Moscow, and several budget airlines are also operating charter flights during the winter season.

Prof Peiris suggested that the feasibility of air links between Colombo and Baku be considered.

He made this suggestion against the backdrop of negotiations by officials from the two sides in Colombo recently on the draft Air Services Agreement between the two countries. During the negotiations, frequencies were offered for both the Bandaranaike International Airport and the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport.

The Azerbaijan Foreign Minister commented on his country's increasing interest in the consumption of tea.

He said while Azerbaijan's traditional interest was in gold jewellery, there was now greater attention being paid to gems of high quality.

Minister Peiris drew the attention of the Azerbaijan Minister to the established skills of Sri Lankan craftsmen in turning out gold jewellery.

He said the Sri Lankan blue sapphire, in particular, is famous throughout the world for its lustre, depth and quality, and suggested a focus on the gem and jewellery sector as a priority area in increasing volumes of trade between the two countries.

He also referred to Sri Lanka's strengths with regard to packeted teas, tea bags and flavoured teas as an example of value addition which had been systematically developed in recent years.

While furniture, plastic packaging goods and apparel products were identified as other potential goods for increasing trade, it was agreed to put in place a practical strategy for closer collaboration between the trade chambers of the two countries as a catalyst to enhance bilateral trade relations.

Prof Peiris told the visiting Foreign Minister that his visit is particularly appropriate at this time, in light of Sri Lanka's greater involvement with Central Asia as a prominent feature of its international relations.