Elmar Mammadyarov: Ladies and gentlemen! Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa Mrs. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane is on her first official visit to Azerbaijan. As you may know, I paid a visit to South Africa in 2014. We had discussions with her right now. Mrs. Minister was also received by H.E. Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We exchanged our views on the ways of strengthening the relations between Azerbaijan and South Africa. Both countries have similar positions within international organizations on a number of issues. I expressed my gratitude to Mrs. Maite Nkoana-Mashabane for the just stance of South Africa on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Additionally, I informed my counterpart on the negotiations process of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It is very important to note the support provided during the voting in the framework of Non-Alignment Movement, as well as United Nations. Azerbaijan acted together with South Africa in the UN Security Council. Azerbaijan and South Africa were the non-permanent members of UN Security Council in 2012-2013 and 2011-2012, respectively. We discussed the agenda of bilateral relationship. Today the ADA University and the Diplomatic Academy of South Africa are going to sign a memorandum of understanding on mutual cooperation. We discussed the cooperation in other fields, such as consular, defense industry, tax, investment, aviation and energy. SOCAR Trading is planning to implement projects in South Africa. We also touched upon the parliamentary diplomacy. We agreed on the development of cooperation between the parliaments of two countries.

Q&A session:

ATV. Question: My first question is for Mrs. Minister. How do you assess the future perspectives of bilateral relationship between the two countries? Could both countries jointly get access to the third country’s markets? As you know, Azerbaijan has got an observer status at the African Union. How do you assess its future prospects? My second question goes to you Mr. Minister. A number of scientists have been carrying out research in the Azykh cave located in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan recently. Are you going to send appeals to those countries on this issue? Thank you!

Elmar Mammadyarov: I thank you for the question. I would like to add that after Azerbaijan got an observer status at the African Union, its cooperation with South Africa is expanding day by day. In December of this year we are planning to make a presentation of ASAN service there. Because there is a huge interest for that. A meeting of Foreign Ministerial council of the African Union Member States is set to be held on December and we will possibly make that presentation there. Our ambassador in Addis-Ababa is engaged on this issue. And about the issue of archaeologists in the occupied territories, our press secretary made a statement on that account. Of course, we are dealing with this issue and will continue to do so. Legal aspects of the illegal visits and some self-actions are involved in this case. We are investigating it at present and after a complete investigation we will inform public accordingly on further actions.

Report. Question: Good day Mr. Minister. My first question is for you. As you know, a meeting of OSCE Foreign Ministers Council is going to be held in Hambourg. Could we expect a meeting between you and Armenian Foreign Minister Nalbandyan? Also could changing the Minsk Group co-chairs have a positive or negative affect on the settlement of the conflict? My second question goes to Mrs. Minister. Azerbaijan has a fairly close relationship with South Africa. Business relations exist as well. We would like to know whether South Africa is planning to open its embassy in Azerbaijan.

Elmar Mammadyarov: I had a statement on the meeting in Hambourg. While I was in France having a meeting with my counterpart I had been proposed holding a 2+3 format meeting. Azerbaijani side agreed for that. In Paris, I said that we support this proposal. We are ready for holding a meeting in this format in Hambourg. On the second issue I can say that I don’t believe any changes to occur. The co-chair from France completed his three year-term. I met with the new co-chair in Paris. He is an experienced diplomat and well familiar with the region. If you look back into the history, once the meeting of the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Armenia in Munich was held in the Consulate General of France. That time Consul General was the same person-Stefan Visconti. I mean he is well informed about the conflict and the negotiations process on the conflict. If we talk about the American co-chair, as you may know James Warlick left his diplomatic career and stepped to the private sector. Who is going to be the new co-chair depends on the decision of United States Department of State. It will be open to public who is going to be appointed as the new co-chair only after the new administration in USA is formed.

Thank you!

Full video of the joint press conference can be obtained from the following link