ISLAMABAD Following Turkey, Azerbaijan is the second country that has given green signal to support Pakistan for its candidature for United Nations Security Council for the term 2012-2013. Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan HE Dr Elmar Mamadyarov, who is on a one-day visit to Pakistan, said this while meeting Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday in Islamabad. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has put forward its candidacy for a non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the period 2012-2013. In this connection, Turkey was the first country, which assured Pakistan of its support in the struggle for occupying non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council, last month. Similarly, Azerbaijan, after Turkey, has also assured Pakistan of its full support for this venture. According to details shared by the Foreign Office with the media, the two foreign ministers discussed the bilateral, regional and international issues. The visiting guest highly praised Pakistans efforts in bringing peace and stability in the region and acknowledged Pakistans support to Azerbaijan on the issue of Nagorno Karabakh. People of Azerbaijan would never forget that Pakistan was the second country, after Turkey, to recognise Azerbaijan following its independence 18 years ago, Elmar Mamadyarov said. Foreign Minister Qureshi apprised his Azerbaijani counterpart of the internal developments, and in particular the governments efforts in controlling the twin challenges of poverty and unemployment. He also briefed the visiting dignitary about the successes achieved on the front of counterterrorism, emphasising that it was the full and firm support of the people of Pakistan which made the difference. Both the foreign ministers agreed to further enhance trade between the two countries. It is worth mentioning here that the current volume of bilateral trade between Pakistan and Azerbaijan is $ 11 million per annum. They agreed that at the next session of the Joint Ministerial Commission, which is to be held in Baku, should consider all the aspects of bilateral relations and look into the opportunities for cooperation in non-traditional areas. The Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan emphasised that his country, given its huge oil and gas reserves, was destined to play an important role in the overall development of the region. He said that Azerbaijan was keen to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan. Briefing the visiting Foreign Minister about Pakistans efforts in the context of bringing peace and stability in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister Qureshi underlined that significant developments had taken place subsequent to the London Conference on Afghanistan on 28 January 2010. The recently held Peace Jirga in Kabul was a step in the right direction, Qureshi added. He said that Pakistan was looking forward to the Kabul Conference to be held on July 20, adding that peaceful and stable Afghanistan was vital for Pakistans security and stability. The Foreign Minister emphasised that Pakistan would continue providing all possible assistance to Afghanistan towards reconstruction and development as well as in promoting reintegration and reconciliation through a process led by Afghanistan.