Azerbaijani Ambassador to Serbia Eldar Hasanov said that it was no accident that his country had chosen to open its first embassy in the region in Serbia, and that both countries were struggling to preserve their territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"The expansion of friendly relations with other countries is one of Azerbaijan's chief priorities and it is no accident that we opened our first embassy in the region here in Belgrade.

We share much in common with the Serb people, both in the past and today a territorial integrity problem, refugee problems and separatism, and the struggle against double standards," Hasanov told at the opening of the embassy.

In addition to demands for honoring international law pertaining to the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty, both countries want to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible to all of their problems and "to achieve agreement and peace through dialogue," the ambasasdor said.

He stressed that relations between the two countries, after Serbian President's visit to Azerbaijan in mid-May, had been elevated to a new level and that there was a mutual desire to continue expanding economic cooperation, especially in the field of energy.

"Azerbaijan must contribute to the energy security of Balkan nations," the ambassador said.

At the opening, which was also a celebration of Azerbaijani independence day, Minister of the Economy Dinkic said that the delegations of both states had signed several important agreements based on which an interstate commission would be created, which he will be in charge of.