OFFICIAL NEWS
WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANITY
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC ILHAM ALIYEV ARRIVED IN GENEVA
On 9 December, President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev arrived in Geneva to take part at the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS), AzerTAj correspondent reports.At the airport, President Ilham Aliyev, according to the protocol of the Summit, was welcomed by minister of the Canton of Geneva, permanent representative of Switzerland at the UN and other international organizations Jan Mark Vugari, heads of the UN regional sectors, ambassador of Azerbaijan to Germany and Switzerland Huseynaga Sadigov, charge-de affaire of the Azerbaijan permanent representation at the UN and other international organizations Murad Najafov and other officials.President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev went to his residence. ***On midday, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev came to the Palekspo Palace in Geneva. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the unofficial reception arranged by the Swiss Confederation and Canton of Geneva for the heads of state and government, as well as for the UN sector chiefs who came to take part at the Summit. The World Summit on Information Society, organized by the UN and International Telecommunications Union is to be conducted in two stages. The first stage of the Summit will be held on 10-12 December of current year, while the second stage will be conducted in November 2005 in Tunis.***MEETING OF PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV WITH THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL KOFI ANNANPresident of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev who came to take part at the World Summit on Information Society, on 9 December had a tкte-а-tкte meeting at the Palekspo Palace with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The UN Secretary General warmly congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on his election as the head of the Azerbaijani state and wished him success at this high position. President Ilham Aliyev stated that though there are problems in the Country, connected with the transition period, he is mostly concerned with the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno Karabakh conflict and that this is the most crucial problem for Azerbaijan.Mr. Kofi Annan noted that military way of settlement of the said conflict might sharpen the almost instable situation in the region, and therefore it is expedient to solve the problem peacefully. Regretting that the activity of the OSCE Minsk Group, as a mediator in the settlement of the conflict, remains unsuccessful, President of Azerbaijan stated that the United Nations, other international organizations should hold decisive position in settlement of the conflict. President of Azerbaijan also expressed his concern on reduction of the humanitarian assistance, rendered by donors to the refugees and internally displaced persons in the Republic. At the same time, he noted that government of Azerbaijan had allocated from the Oil Fund over 70 million USD for refugees and IDPs. However, there is great need in the assistance of international organizations. Head of the Azerbaijani state dwelt on the activity of the Oil Fund either. The UN Secretary General highly assessed activity of the Oil Fund created in Azerbaijan, stressing the necessity of studying experience of oil producing countries.President Ilham Aliyev informed that while creating the Oil Fund in the Republic as a sample was taken the Norwegian model. The Oil Fund of Azerbaijan is a transparent structure, activity of which was also highly estimated by the international financial organizations. Mr. Kofi Annan promised to conduct appropriate work with the donor countries to increase assistance to the refugees and IDPs in Azerbaijan. He also expressed a hope for quick settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem.The UN Secretary General expressed concern with the fact that last times in the world has increased number of the terror acts, giving a high assessment to participation of Azerbaijan in the anti-terror coalition. Mr. Kofi Annan stressed the necessity of creation and perfection of the institutions in the Country, noting that the United Nations would render any assistance in this question.Expressing his satisfaction with the adoption in Azerbaijan of a state program on poverty reduction, Secretary General noted that he would make every effort to assist the Country in this sphere. President Ilham Aliyev, emphasizing that as a head of state considers elimination of unemployment and poverty one of the major tasks, assured the Secretary General that the Country would continue to cooperate with the international community in the field of creation and perfection of institutions.Then, Mr. Kofi Annan interested in health of the nationwide leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev and asked President Ilham Aliyev to convey him greetings and kind wishes. During the talk that passed in a sincere atmosphere, the parties had a comprehensive exchange of views on a number of other issues of mutual interest.