President receives Prince of Kent

President Ilham Aliyev received Prince Michael of Kent, a member of the British royal family and the founder and guardian of the British Genesis Initiative organization, on Wednesday.

Expressing his satisfaction with high level political and economic cooperation between the United Kingdom and Azerbaijan, President Aliyev voiced his confidence that the bilateral relationships would develop in other spheres. Aliyev underlined that British companies took active part in successful implementation of large energy projects in Azerbaijan. He stated that the British companies were leading for making investments in Azerbaijan’s economy. Underlining that more than one million people, who have become refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) as a result of Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan, have been settled across the country, President Aliyev stressed the necessity for the international community’s pressure on Armenia in order to repatriate the refugees and IDPs.

Elaborating on his Baku meetings, Prince Michael expressed his displeasure with the activities of the British companies, particularly the BP-Azerbaijan company. The Prince of Kent noted that he had toured one of the hospitals in the capital and rendered assistance as part of his charity activities. He stated that Genesis Initiative was ready to provide any kind of technical assistance to the Azerbaijani entrepreneurs.

Stressing that Azerbaijan has beautiful nature and hospitable people, Prince Michael said there were great opportunities for development of tourism in the country.

Abulfaz Garayev, Minister for Youth, Sports and Tourism, Rafael Ibrahimov, Azerbaijani Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and Laurie Bristow, British Ambassador to Azerbaijan, also attended the meeting.*