On June 15, the VI meeting of the Azerbaijani-Latvian intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific-technical and cooperation was held in Riga

On June 15, the VI meeting of the Azerbaijani-Latvian intergovernmental commission on economic, scientific-technical and cooperation was held in Riga, in the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Latvia. The meeting was held in accordance with the provisions of the "Agreement on economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Latvia", signed on 3 October 2005 in Baku. 

The meeting was attended by the Azerbaijani delegation headed by co-chairman of the intergovernmental commission from the Azerbaijan, the Minister of Transport Ziya Mammadov, the Latvian delegation headed by co-chairman of the intergovernmental commission of Latvia, the Minister of Transport Uldis Augulis, as well as the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Latvia Javanshir Akhundov, the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Azerbaijan Yuri Maklakov, and representatives of the media. 

The agenda of the Commission included issues of cooperation between the two countries in the transport sector, in the sphere of economics, information technology and communications, agriculture, environment and regional development, education and science, tourism, health care, banking cooperation. 

Minister of Transport of Latvia Uldis Augulis in his welcome speech mentioned Azerbaijan as an important economic partner of Latvia. The priority areas of cooperation are the increase of trade circulation, joint investment projects, effective use of international transport corridors, and cooperation in education, agriculture, construction, tourism and health. The Minister emphasized that Latvia offers Azerbaijan to consider opportunities for cooperation in the field of clean technologies, food processing, pharmaceuticals, health and tourism. 

U.Augulis stressed that Azerbaijan is an important partner of Latvia in the field transit and logistics in the South Caucasus. The Minister added that Latvia is an important transport hub and an integral part of the new Silk Road transport corridor North-South. We are not competitors, he said. We are the interaction partners and we develop a common vision of its niche in the global transit routes map.

 The Minister of Transport of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ziya Mammadov said that the relations between Azerbaijan and Latvia are expanding. Co-operation with Latvia, which is a member of the EU, is considered very important for us. The Minister noted with satisfaction the deepening of the diversified ties between our countries in recent years. Existing socio-political situation in Azerbaijan, said Z.Mammadov, creates favorable conditions for attracting foreign investments and opens up opportunities for cooperation with public and private institutions in Latvia.

 The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Latvia, Javanshir Akhundov noted the high level of bilateral relations. Referring to the basic problem of Azerbaijan's foreign policy - the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Ambassador thanked the Latvian government for its long-standing position on the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and for adoption of statement on Khojaly genocide by the Latvian Saeima.

 The Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to Azerbaijan Yuriy Maklakov pointed out that this year the members of the Latvian Government will have a few official visits to Azerbaijan. These visits, the Ambassador emphasized, will give a new impulse to further development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Latvia.

 The Deputy Minister of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahib Mammadov brought to the attention that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Latvia amounted to $ 9 million in 2015. Today, in Azerbaijan, noted Deputy Minister, 20 companies with Latvian capital operate in the areas such as trade, industry, construction, banking and services.

 After discussing the agenda of the meeting, the final protocol was signed between two countries. The final protocol emphasizes that the import, export and placing on the markets of Latvian goods and services produced in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, including Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as any economic activity of Latvian companies in these territories are illegal on the basis of International Law and the Azerbaijani Legislation. The document also reflects that the products manufactured in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, will not be permitted in Latvia without obtaining a certificate from the relevant structures of Azerbaijan.

The final protocol also reflected that the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Latvia are based on the principles of respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty of States