AZERBAIJAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS BERLIN
Azerbaijan Deputy Foreign Minister Mahmud Mammadguliyev and his accompanying delegation made a business visit to Berlin on November 12-14, to attend the events organized within UN Special Program (SPECA) for the Economies of Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan, Azerbaijan’s embassy to Germany said.
The representatives of SPECA member states, UN organizations and donor countries attended the events.
Azerbaijan was represented by its official representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economic Development, State Committee on Family, Women, Children and the embassy in Germany.
The 2nd session of the Program’s project working group on trade was held on Monday. The session discussed the execution condition of working group’s activity plan and issues of priority for the future.
The session was focused on simplification of trade and transportation procedures in member countries, development of transportation and transit infrastructures and opportunities of cooperation on customs field. The session also discussed the ways of improvement of working group’s activity.
The session of working group on gender issues under the chairmanship of the representatives from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan was also held. The session adopted the report of the group for 2007.
The conference on the theme “Central Asia: New Economic Partnership for the 21 Century” was held in Berlin on Tuesday.
The conference brought together Germany Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, EC Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, as well as the ministers and deputy ministers of SPECA countries and other officials.
The session discussed the issues on European Union strategy on Central Asia and its cooperation opportunities for its implementation during Germany’s chairmanship at EU in 2007. The session also focused on cooperation between EU and Central Asian states, management of water resources, energy security issues. Transportation of oil and gas from Central Asia to Europe, provide of alternative energy supply and energy corridors were determined as a priority for cooperation.
Speaking at the session Azerbaijan Deputy FM Mammadguliyev attracted the attention of participants to development of energy field in Caspian basin and achieved dividends. He informed about the important role of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum pipelines, and Azerbaijanis energy products` contributions for providing of global energy security and diversification of energy supplies.
The 2nd session of Executive Council of SPECA was held on Wednesday.
The session listened the reports of SPECA Project Working Groups and discussed the activity plans for 2008-2009.
Russia and China applied for observing status at the organization and Russia`s Minister of Foreign Affairs attended the event.
Next to international events, Azerbaijani Deputy FM had some bilateral meetings during the visit.
Mammadguliyev met Wednesday with regional director for Europe and Central Asia of non-governmental organization “Transparency International” Micolas Marshal. The meeting exchanged views on situation of bilateral cooperation and its perspectives. Deputy FM spoke about the measures undertaken to combat against corruption in Azerbaijan and invited “Transparency International” to cooperate in implementing of newly adopted four-year strategy.
The same day, Mammadguliyev met with State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology Bernd Pfaffenbach.
The meeting discussed the cooperation not only in oil but also in non-oil sectors between the countries.
Then, Azerbaijani official met with Azerbaijan and Turkey communities living in Berlin and gave interview to TRT TV channel.
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