Austrian president arrives in Baku to reach gas deal

Austrian President Heinz Fischer is on a visit to Baku. He was welcomed by a guard of honour. The head of the honorary guards presented a report to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Heinz Fischer and his wife Margit were welcomed by Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban.

The presidents will discuss gas cooperation. They will first have closed-door talks and then extended negotiations.

Austria is a partner of the Nabucco consortium. The leaders of Austria and Azerbaijan will discuss gas transport from the Caspian Sea to Europe. They will also talk on investment projects and priorities for bilateral economic cooperation.

One of the main topics for discussion is Azerbaijani integration into Europe and a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The presidents plan to sign documents.

Fischer will meet Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade and Chairman of Parliament Ogtay Asadov. The Austrian president is expected to see the unveiling of a monument to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Baku.

President Fischer will then visit Turkmenistan, another Caspian state rich with gas.