President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso in Rome.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Italian Senate Pietro Grasso posed together for photographs.

During the meeting, the parties expressed satisfaction with the successful development of Azerbaijani-Italian strategic relations in various areas. The sided noted that Italy was the main trade partner of Azerbaijan, and stressed the importance of diversification of the economic cooperation. It was said that the activities of numerous Italian companies in Azerbaijan contributed to the development of the relations. The parties noted that the relations between the two countries played an immense role in the development of Azerbaijan-European Union cooperation. The sides expressed confidence that joint activities would be carried out during Azerbaijan`s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The president of the Italian Senate said his country considered Azerbaijan as the guarantor of stability in the Caucasus.

President Ilham Aliyev informed the president of the Italian Senate of the consequences of Armenia`s military aggression against Azerbaijan and the current state of the talks on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The parties emphasized the importance of interparliamentary ties, including the role of friendship groups in terms of the development of the bilateral relations, and noted the significance of the strengthening of cooperation on this front.

At the close of the meeting the parties exchanged keepsakes.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Italian Republic Giorgio Napolitano have held a meeting in an expanded format with the participation of delegations in Rome.

The head of state arrived at the Palace of the Italian President.

The guard of honor was arranged for President Ilham Aliyev outside the Palace.

Members of the Azerbaijani delegation were introduced to President Giorgio Napolitano and the government officials of Italy were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev.

The presidents posed for official photos.

Then the heads of state held a meeting in an expanded format.

During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the successful development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy in the political, economic, cultural and other fields. The parties stressed the importance of relations between the two countries in terms of the European Union-Azerbaijan cooperation.

The sides underlined the significance of the coordination of the efforts during Azerbaijan`s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

During the conversation, the parties noted the successful development of cooperation in the energy area, and said the two countries supported each other within international organizations.

During the meeting, the sides exchanged views over the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, various aspects of Azerbaijan-Italy bilateral ties and other issues of mutual concern.

After the meeting, a dinner reception was hosted on behalf of President of Italy Giorgio Napolitano in honor of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Altare dell Patria memorial complex in Rome.

The guard of honor was arranged for the head of state in front of the memorial.

President Ilham Aliyev laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has visited a monument to great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi in Villa Borghese park in Rome.

The head of state put flowers at the monument.

The monument was erected under the Order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On celebration of the 870th anniversary of great Azerbaijani poet and thinker Nizami Ganjavi” dated December 23, 2011.

Supported by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the monument was unveiled in April, 2012 as part of a series of events marking the anniversary of Nizami Ganjavi.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has arrived in the Italian Republic on an official visit.

At the Rome international airport the head of state was met by senior state and government officials of Italy.