Germany calls Azerbaijan ‘an increasingly important partner’

Azerbaijan's president Ilham Alyiev was received by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on 21 January 2015, in a sign of warming relations between the two countries.

During the meeting, the two leaders discussed: the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh region, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the development of Southern Gas Corridor projectthe human rights situation in Azerbaijan and the country's relations with the European Union.

• Primary Source

Human Rights Watch: News, 20.01.15: Germany/Azerbaijan: Merkel Should Press Aliyev for Rights http://www.hrw.org/news/2015/01/20/germanyazerbaijan-merkel-should-press-aliyev-rights

Reuters, 21.01.15: In Berlin, Azerbaijan leader shrugs off criticism on rights http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/21/azerbaijan-rights-germany-idUSB4N0PT00M20150121

Azernews, 22.01.15: Azerbaijan-initiated projects change Europe’s energy map http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/76402.html

ESO: Background information: Azerbaijan: Human rights situation http://www.europeansources.info/record/azerbaijan-human-rights-situation/

EurActiv, 06.03.15: Ambassador: Azerbaijan is unfairly targeted http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/ambassador-azerbaijan-unfairly-targeted-312701

EurActiv, 19.05.15: Azerbaijan positions itself as promoter of multiculturalism http://www.euractiv.com/sections/development-policy/azerbaijan-positions-itself-promoter-multiculturalism-314664

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