President of Czech Republic continues cooperation with Azerbaijan

President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus will make his first official visit to Azerbaijan on May 16-19, Trend reports.

The president will be assisted by 40 people interested in economic cooperation, mainly energy cooperation.

The Czech Republic has no gas reserves and needs gas imports. It supports the Southern Gas Corridor and Nabucco projects.

Azerbaijan fulfills 20% of the country’s demand for oil.

Trade turnover between the two states rises every year. The turnover in 2010 was $38 million. Azerbaijan imported Czech products worth $37.78 million and imported goods worth $0.23 million.

Vaclav Klaus met Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the foundation summit of the Eastern Partnership in Prague in May 2009. The Czech Republic was the initiator of the project.

Klaus noted the start of negotiations on the associated agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. A free trade agreement will be part of the associated deal.

The EU held the first round of talks on associated agreements with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia in mid-July. The talks involved a political dialogue, justice, freedom, security, trade and cooperation.