Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of the Republic of South Africa who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan.

During the meeting the ministers reviewed the current status of relations between Azerbaijan and Republic of South Africa and stressed that these regular consultations between foreign ministries and exchange of high level visits give an important contribution to the development of bilateral relations. 

They noted the importance of the development of cooperation and mutual support within international organisations including the United Nations, African Union and the Non Alignment Movement.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov mentioned the importance of enhancing legal-treaty base and forming of legal framework for the cooperation.

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane proposed to hold political consultations at the ministerial level regularly and to elevate this mechanism to the level of joint commission. She said that both countries should exchange experiences and learn each other as the young democracies. 

At the meeting the sides exchanged views on the issues of expanding the economic-trade relations between Azerbaijan and South Africa, organisation of exhibitions and fairs as well as business trips in order to increase the volume of trade turnover along with the implementation of common projects in the fields of agriculture and energy. Ministers also discussed the cooperation in education sphere, especially the opportunities of student and teaching staff exchanges between the Diplomatic Academies of both countries. They touched upon the prospects of organization of cultural days and workshops in both countries to develop cultural cooperation.

The sides commended the cooperation between Azerbaijan and South Africa during the non-permanent membership term at the UN Security Council. Azerbaijan’s particular attention to the problems of African continent was also highlighted. 

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov briefed his counterpart about the projects and programs, as well as works in the field of humanitarian aid implemented by Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) in Africa and other continents and said that such activities serve to strengthen international cooperation and peace. Minister also spoke about activity of ASAN Service and informed that the presentation of this service will be held at the African Union.

Informing on the latest status of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, Elmar Mammadyarov underscored that according to the norms and principles of international law and in compliance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council the conflict has to be only settled on the basis of territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan. With regrets he stressed that the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council on this conflict has not been implemented yet.

Elmar Mammadyarov also stated that the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair countries at the level of heads of state declared the fact of unacceptability and unsustainability of the current status-quo. He stressed that the attempts to change the internationally recognized borders of states by use force is unacceptable.

Minister Elmar Mammadyarov underlined that Azerbaijan highly appreciated South Africa's position on the settlement of the conflict on the basis of territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan as it was expressed during latest Non Alignment Movement summit document.

Maite Nkoana-Mashabane shared her countries willingness to establish a diplomatic mission in Azerbaijan.

At the meeting the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and people to people contact, as well as the regional and international issues of mutual interest were also discussed.