POLITICS
AZERBAIJAN, KAZAKHSTAN ADOPT JOINT DECLARATION
Within the framework of the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s official visit to Kazakhstan, a Joint Declaration of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted in Kazakh capital Astana on August 7.
The document says that with the aim to deepen the relations of strategic partnership between the two countries, the parties point out the importance of continuation of the dialogue and widening exchanges at the level of governments, parliaments and institutions of civil society.
The parties expressed their determination in an effort to expand trade and economic, scientific and technical, and humanitarian and cultural cooperation.
They regard activities of the Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation as an important coordinating mechanism for development of bilateral economic relations and effective way of implementation of the arrangements made.
Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan expressed confidence they will contribute to ensuring global energy security, and serve sustainable economic development in the countries of the region.
The parties recognized the importance of interaction for successful functioning of the East-West transport corridor, realization of joint transport and energy projects in the Caspian Sea, ensuring uninterrupted transit of Kazakh goods through the territory of Azerbaijan and that of the Azerbaijani goods through the territory of Kazakhstan, and forming of favorable investment climate.
They regard the development of transport and communication links as well as the increase in cargo transportation between Europe and Asia as priority of the regional cooperation.
The document says that fully supporting the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the three principles of the Lisbon Summit of OSCE, the parties point out the importance of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement by peaceful means and on the base of the generally recognized principles and norms of the international law, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.
In this connection, the parties note the importance of taking, by the OSCE Minsk group, the effective and decisive measures for quick and peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
The Declaration also says that both countries condemn the existing threats to the international security and stability, such as international terrorism, all forms of extremism, illegal trafficking of narcotics, psychotropic substances and their precursors, as well as firearms and humans, transnational organized crime and proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction, and call for consolidation of international efforts in the fight against them.
The parties confirmed their intention to continue cooperation within the United Nations and its specialized bodies, as well as various international and regional organizations, and stressed the importance of strengthening the role of the UN in settlement of international conflicts.