‘Azerbaijan is France`s largest economic partner in the South Caucasus’
Baku, September 13 (AZERTAC). French Senator, Jean-Marie Bockel, a member of the Energy Study Group and France-Caucasus Friendship Group of the French Senate said followings in an interview by The European Azerbaijan Society on the importance of Azerbaijan in the region of the South Caucasus:
“Since its accession to independence barely 20 years ago, the development of Azerbaijan has been remarkable, and especially in two respects. First of all, its economic development has allowed the country to modernize and its people to made gain in terms of quality of life. Economic growth was between 25 and 35 per cent between 2005 and 2007, the most rapidly growing economy in the world. The poverty rate dropped from 45 per cent by the end of the 1990s to 7.6 per cent in 2011. Following the example of the hydrocarbon sector, non-energy sectors like the agri-food and construction industries are soaring, making Azerbaijan an attractive destination to French investors. Moreover, Azerbaijan has become France`s largest economic partner in the South Caucasus. Also, France is the second largest foreign direct investor in Azerbaijan after the United Kingdom.
The second aspect is how Azerbaijan is significant for regional security. Through courageous foreign policy with complete independence from the both neighbouring Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan has become overwhelmingly open to the West and has been playing a key role in a complex geopolitical environment in the energy security of the European Union. Azerbaijan is also a front-line player in the supply of NATO troops in Afghanistan. Baku has become a regional platform for dialogue and is acknowledged as such across all of Eurasia.
It is pertinent to recall that Azerbaijan managed to achieve such positive developments despite the amputation of nearly 20 per cent of its territory which is still occupied by neighbouring Armenia. France - as a Co-president of the Minsk Group - supports the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I am sure that France and Azerbaijan will continue to strengthen their dynamic and quality political, economic and cultural relations.”
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