ECONOMY
AZERBAIJAN-GERMANY INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATIONS UNDERWAY
Farhad Aliyev in detail informed the visitors on reforms conducted in our country. He stated that worth now before the government of Azerbaijan, the primary goal consists in increase of volume of foreign investments for the non-oil sector, maintenance of balanced development of our republic both on separate branches, and on regions, reduction of poverty level. With this purpose, has been accepted the “State program of social and economic development of regions of the Azerbaijan Republic”.
During conversation, it has been marked that expansion of cooperation with the European Union is considered a priority direction of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan welcomes the initiative of expansion of Europe, and our country is going to become in the future the full member of the European Union.
The Minister has noted, that highly estimates the regular conducted Azerbaijani-German negotiations, which have great value. He has emphasized, that results of this meeting render positive influence on the further development of connections between our countries.
The Ambassador of Federal Republic of Germany in Baku Clause Grevlich informed that
The German-Azerbaijani negotiations serve development of both countries. The questions of expansion of cooperation between our states in all areas have been raised during the negotiations, which have been carried out during visit taken place in one of these days to Baku of Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany of Joschka Fischer.
The chief negotiator of the government of Germany Rainer Gerdelier has noted great value of expansion of cooperation with Azerbaijan for the country. Due to the means allocated by Germany in Azerbaijan projects are successfully realized, he emphasized, that today cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany successfully develops. The visitor has resulted figures concerning trade turnover between our countries in 2003. As an example of successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Germany, he has especially noted activity of the Society of Technical Cooperation (GTZ) of Germany in Azerbaijan. R. Gerdelier has emphasized that for today the government of Federal Republic of Germany has granted to Azerbaijan means for amount of 276,6 million Euros, including 136,6 million within the framework of bilateral cooperation and 140 million - by the European Union. He noted that within the framework of financial cooperation on regenerative programs on support of private sector, transfer of the electric power, the project of municipal infrastructure, projects of Fund of researches and experts and Fund of warranting of credits are allocated means at the rate of 117,6 million Euros.
Within the framework of technical cooperation on projects on support of development of private sector, process of privatization, an agrarian policy connected to market economy, judicial and legal reforms means are allocated at the rate of 19 million Euros.
On negotiations, it has been marked, that in 2004-2005 within the framework of financial cooperation assignment is stipulated at a rate of 13,83 million Euros, and within the framework of technical - 5 million Euros. The allocated means will be used on carrying out of legal and judicial reforms, support and encouragement of private sector, expansion of activity of the German -Azerbaijan fund, improvement of water supply of Ganja and Sheki cities, purchase by KfW of the shares of Bank of Micro-financing, drawing up of the Land Cadastre and the state register of real estate, and also on continuation of the project of Fund of researches and experts.
Intergovernmental negotiations have ended on 26 April. Relevant protocol was signed on the conclusions.
