AZERBAIJAN, GERMANY BEGIN INTERGOVERNMENTAL CONSULTATIONS
Azerbaijan and Germany started intergovernmental consultations on Tuesday in Baku.
The consultations are co-chaired by Head of the Apparatus of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Economic Development Samir Valiyev and Head of the Caucasus and Central Asia Division at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development Juergen Zoll.
In his speech, Samir Valiyev said cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany has noticeably developed since his country gained independence.
He stressed visits by nationwide leader Heydar Aliyev and President Ilham Aliyev to Germany played huge role in strengthening the two countries` bilateral relations.
“Azerbaijan and Germany have been holding intergovernmental consultations since 1997. We have been discussing prospects for cooperation between our countries and our technical and financial projects …”, he added.
“In general, Azerbaijan and Germany are cooperating in two directions: financial and technical. Today, German KfW Bank and German Technical Cooperation Organization (GTZ) are rendering technical and financial assistance to implementing a number of various projects in Azerbaijan”.
He said that to date, the German government allotted 144.58 million euros in loan and 23.8 million euros in grant to Azerbaijan through the KfW Bank.
According to Valiyev, the German government has allotted 44 million euros to his country under technical cooperation agreements.
He said Azerbaijan places particular emphasis on development of cooperation with Germany.
Juergen Zoll expressed satisfaction with the level of Germany-Azerbaijan cooperation.
He said there has been a positive change in the bilateral relations over the last few years, and added “it contributed both to development of foreign relations and Azerbaijan`s joining the European Neighborhood Policy”.
Zoll noted his country is supporting regional projects, and is ready to make every effort towards enhancing cooperation with Azerbaijan.
During the meeting, the two countries discussed cooperation in the fields of health, agriculture, infrastructure, tourism and environmental security.
The consultations will continue on Wednesday.
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