Stronger cooperation between Azerbaijan and Norway

Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre met Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elmar Mammadyarov, in Oslo on 4 December. During the meeting, the ministers signed a joint declaration on continued cooperation between their two countries. 
 
“Norway wants to develop its cooperation with Azerbaijan, and the joint declaration sets out frameworks for closer political, economic and cultural contact,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Jonas Gahr Støre.
 
During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed cooperation related to petroleum management, the training of diplomats, good governance and human rights.
 
“Strengthened cooperation with Azerbaijan will not prevent us from criticising violations of human rights and democratic standards. Closer contact in a greater number of fields is positive for both countries. We want an open dialogue about human rights that is based on Azerbaijan’s voluntarily assumed obligations to the OSCE and the Council of Europe,” said Mr Støre.
 
The joint declaration emphasises the positive development of cooperation in the energy sector, as well as the desire to expand cooperation in relation to democratic reform, anti-corruption, science, education, Euro-Atlantic integration, peaceful conflict resolution and the environment. The declaration builds on the joint declaration signed by President Aliev and Prime Minister Brundtland in 1996.

Read the joint declaration.