Criticism thrown at Malta over its relationship with Azerbaijan was not necessarily a bad thing, Azeri Foreign Affairs Minister Elmar Mammadyarov told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this evening.
The two were speaking at Castille at the start of a three-day visit, during which Mr Mammadyarov is being accompanied by Elshad Nasirov, vice president of oil company Socar and Azerbaijani ambassador Mammad Ahmadzada.
Dr Muscat stressed the importance of the relationship between the two countries, despite local criticism.
Malta was looking forward to renewing the relationship and investment between the two, he said, welcoming comments by European commissioners who saw Azerbaijan as a strategic partner for the EU during these turbulent times.
In his short address, Mr Mammadyarov said that criticism was at times useful, because only those who did nothing were not criticised.