Azerbaijani Studies Center commences activity.
Brno, September 22, 2008 -Today's inauguration ceremony of Azerbaijan and Caspian Studies Center (ACSC) at the Masaryk University is a landmark in the brief history of Azerbaijan-Czech bilateral relations.

The event was attended by Tahir Taghizade, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic, Radek Matula, Czech Ambassador to Baku, Dr. Bretislav Dancak and Petr Suchi, respectively, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Head of Foreign Relations Department of the Masaryk University, as well as faculty and students of the Masaryk University.

In his opening address, Dr. Dancak underlined the importance of developing Azerbaijan-Czech bilateral relations not only in energy field, but also in other domains and expressed his hope that the Center will contribute to such diversification.

Ambassador Matula read congratulating address by HE Karel Schwarzenberg, Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic. In his letter the Minister links the establishment of the Center with mounting importance of the Caspian region and calls Azerbaijan leading actor and strategic partner of the Czech Republic in that region.

Ambassador Matula recalled Minister Schwarzenberg's recent visit to Baku where Minister expressed Czech interest in developing comprehensive relations with Azerbaijan in all fields, including science, education and culture. "Opening of the Center is an indication of such interest", he concluded.

In his turn, Ambassador Tagizade presented congratulation letter by HE Elmar Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. In his letter the Minister thanks the team behind the project and expresses its confidence that ASCS will affect relations between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic, through bringing closer the academic circles and civil society representatives of the two states.

Azerbaijani Ambassador pointed out that Azerbaijan also views the Czech Republic as strategic partner. He said, "Cultural, scientific and educational relations stand high in the agenda of Azerbaijani Embassy in Prague and establishment of the Center proves that priority. I am confident that the Center will have its important role in developing educational relations and thus, will affect overall cooperation between the two countries".

The Center is the joint project of the Embassy of Azerbaijan to the Czech Republic and the Masaryk University in Brno. Its contacts are as follows:

Azerbaijan and Caspian Studies Center International Institute of Political Science of the Masaryk University Jostova 10, 602 00 - Brno Tel./fax: +420 549 495 769 E-mail: dilbazi@iips.cz, cernoch@iips.cz Web: www.iips.cz