AZERBAIJANI FINANCE MINISTER VISITS PRAGUE

Prague, February 25, 2009 Today Samir Sharifov, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Azerbaijan has completed his one-day visit to Prague upon invitation of his Czech counterpart.

His first meeting in Prague was with Lubos Pokorny, Director General of Czech Export Bank. Activities of Czech companies in Azerbaijan and their support by Czech Export Bank were among issues touched upon during discussions.

Minister Sharifov's next meeting was with Mr. Miloslav Kalousek, Minister of Finance of the Czech Republic. The sides discussed economic and financial relations between the two countries, and potential of cooperation between Finance Ministries. Minister Sharifov informed his counterpart about reforms undertaken in financial sector of Azerbaijan, as well as measures taken by the Government of Azerbaijan for the protection of economy from negative influences of global crisis.

According to the visit program, next meeting was held with Premysl Sobotka, President of the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Issues on the agenda of strengthening strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic, as well as future forms of cooperation between the two countries were discussed in that meeting.