President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Syria Bashar al-Assad attended the opening of Forum.

In the business forum participating were about 120 representatives of the companies from Azerbaijan and almost 70 Syrian businessmen.

President Ilham Aliyev addressed the Forum. He, in particular, said:

- Esteemed Mr. President, dear friend!

Dear guests, ladies and gentlemen!

First of all, once again I warmly welcome in Azerbaijan You, Mr. President, and our friends who have arrived together with You to Azerbaijan. Today is the second day of Your visit, and I can tell that the first day has passed very successfully. We had very wide exchange of opinions and signed very important documents which cover almost all spheres. Sure, as a result of realization of documents and the reached arrangements the Syrian-Azerbaijani relations will develop further. We are very interested in it, we aspire to it, and I am confident that businessmen of two countries also will effectively take advantage of this fine political atmosphere, this possibility.

I am very glad, esteemed Mr. President, that from Syria to Azerbaijan together with You, has arrived a large group of businessmen. I hope that today`s business forum and the relations which will be adjusted between businessmen of Azerbaijan and Syria will serve deepening of cooperation in economic sphere. I can not tell that we are satisfied with cooperation in economic sphere. In this area, it is necessary to do much still. The trade turnover between our states does not answer their potentials, and, certainly, in process of strengthening of political ties it will be possible to make more also in economic sphere. I would stress that today`s historical meeting will lead to revival of economic relations between two countries. For this purpose, there are fine possibilities, good potential. Economies of our countries develop and supplement each other.

We can cooperate very successfully in various areas. The questions discussed we discussed yesterday concerned basically economic sphere. We are for wide cooperation in the field of tourism, pharmaceutics, energy, agriculture, and I hope that primary relations established today will lead in the near future to signing of concrete contracts and agreements.

Last years the economy of Azerbaijan intensively develops. When we gained independence in 1991, our economy was, possible to tell, in the destroyed condition. The industrial enterprises have stopped, there was not a sign economic growth and Azerbaijan endured the deepest economic crisis. It was caused by various reasons. But as a result of conducted radical restructurings, courageous economic and political reforms Azerbaijan has managed with honor to overcome those crisis years.

Since mid-90s we started to conduct wide economic reforms in the country. The investments enclosed, in particular, in energy and oil and gas branch of Azerbaijan, and give today to our economy big impulse. In particular, thanks to the economic reforms begun those years, in the mid-nineties, when the information on Azerbaijan in the world as a whole was very limited, and the available did not reflect reality, we have managed to achieve today`s successes. I would note also that unlike some other neighbors Azerbaijan has achieved all successes, all political and economic accomplishments at its own expense, at the expense of labor of the Azerbaijani people, and thanks to the policy of the Azerbaijan state.

Azerbaijan is a country which completely provides itself, and evidence to that is the work done in economic sphere. If in 1991 the market economy was in Azerbaijan on zero mark, as we were a part of Soviet Union where the market economy was impossible, today 85 percent of economy is formed in private sector. Except strategic enterprises, in all other branches we pursue large-scale policy of privatization. I would say that today we have a diversified economy. We pursued and pursue today very serious investment policy. On volume of foreign investments per capita Azerbaijan holds the first place in region. Azerbaijan is attractive to foreign investors, and, certainly, foreign investments also serve diversification of economy. Recently in Azerbaijan we set up the State Investment Company, primary goal of which is to direct local and foreign investors to branches necessary for the Azerbaijan state so that the economy of our country developed in diverse. We aspired to reduce considerably dependence on the oil and gas factor which is a basis of our economy, and have achieved this. Even when the oil price fell from 140 to 35 dollars, neither the Azerbaijan economy nor the population of Azerbaijan felt this dependence. For strengthening in the future of the policy of diversification we shall pay more attention to the non-oil sector. For this purpose, today we have very good possibilities, and businessmen of Syria and Azerbaijan can cooperate in this direction in various forms. Certainly, we support mutual investment projects and we attach it huge significance. At the same time, the companies representing our countries can participate in various projects as contractors. Probably, today possibilities of our countries, legislative base, tax questions will be widely discussed here.

Certainly, our businessmen should know well each other, and also possibilities of our countries to define, in what branch it is more favorable for them to work. And the task of us, the Presidents, is to make certain recommendations. And they consist that the Syrian-Azerbaijan relations promptly develop, we very much want, that businessmen did not lag behind us and have brought level of economic relations to level of the political.

The oil and gas sphere was one of the questions we discussed yesterday. In this sphere, there are fine possibilities. Yesterday we spoke about concrete questions, and I don`t exclude that in the future between Syria and Azerbaijan will be adjusted cooperation in gas sphere. There is mutual interest for this. Azerbaijan is a country possessing rich oil-gas fields. Active works are conducted in these deposits and there is also extraction. Necessary transport infrastructure has been created. In Azerbaijan, functioning are seven petro- and gas pipelines on which our resources are delivered on the world and European markets. We have export possibilities in all directions, and I consider very real the project of joining of Syria to the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline. We with huge satisfaction will work over this project.

This year the gas production in Azerbaijan will be up to approximately of 25-27 billion cubic meters. The Azerbaijani gas is transported in the various countries - to Georgia, Turkey, Greece, and Iran. According to the agreement signed recently, since next year the Azerbaijani gas will be exported also to Russia. The wider geographical space is the better is for us, both for producers and consumers. Therefore, I am confident that in the near future in the field of energy there can be serious motions.

As a whole, within last five years the Azerbaijani economy grew very promptly, the GDP has increased in 2,6 times, industrial production in 2,5 times. For five years, poverty level has decreased in 4 times, and expenses of the state budget have increased in 12 times. At the expense of it, today, in the country we conduct wide creative work, and all infrastructural projects are realized and carried out concrete programs on improvement of social status of people. I consider that at today`s meeting these questions, first of all, bilateral economic problems will be widely discussed. I wish the businessmen of Syria and Azerbaijan successes in joint activity.

Thanks.

Speaking at the Forum, President of Syria Bashar al-Assad said:

- My dear brother Ilham Aliyev!

I express gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev. Indeed, Mr. President correctly underlined that it is historical visit as it will lay new bases of our relations further. The cultural contacts between our countries have ancient history. However, at a certain stage of history, our people have not managed to develop these relations duly. However, Presidents Hafez Assad and Heydar Aliyev had close contacts still in Soviet period. But it was personal relations. After restoration of the independence by Azerbaijan in the early 90s of the last century these contacts have risen to level of interstate relations.

Certainly, relations between our countries are at very good level, and they were established thanks to our joint efforts. After 90s we took new lessons from the new life and understood that for development of our countries we should pursue multi-vector policy. We have rich information on Azerbaijan. WE have many common interests. The plane overcomes the distance between our countries for 2 hours and 20 minutes. That is, possible to tell, this is very short distance. It allows us to carry out effective work both from the point of view of economy, and from the point of view of investment.

Mr. President, first of all, I would like to say that businessmen can be very sensitive. We would like to utilize sensitivity of businessmen and divert their attention to the issues serving interests of our countries. Businessmen want to know about the level of political ties. I would like to reaffirm President Aliyev`s words - in the media statement I also said that there are friendly relations between us. We, undoubtedly, want ties between our countries to be at the high level as well. President Ilham Aliyev`s participation in the Forum shows that we are determined in our efforts in this direction and businessmen must effectively benefit of these relations.

President Ilham Aliyev spoke about establishment of economic relations between our countries and noted existence of relevant legislative base in this field. Yesterday, 18 documents concerning Syria-Azerbaijan relations were signed. Undoubtedly, if our businessmen and officials do not support these agreements they will just remain on paper. We state that doors are open, and businessmen must take advantage of this. We must also improve trade infrastructure. Within short time, we must form new views on our ties.

Yesterday, we discussed a gas deal. This issue is one of the priorities in our negotiations. Gas pipelines link Azerbaijan, Iran, Georgia and Turkey. Two years ago, we embarked on talks on gas supply and building a gas pipeline from Turkey to Syria. Azerbaijani gas can be transported via this pipeline to Syria and further to the south - Jordan and Egypt. Gas purchase is very important for us as our reserves are very small.

Perhaps, Azerbaijani gas will constitute the major part of gas to be transported via this route. Gas pipelines will contribute to development of ties between the regions of the Caspian, Black Sea and Persian Gulf. We held talks on acquisition of Azerbaijani gas. This gas must be shipped to Syria via Turkey. Azerbaijan agreed to sell about one billion cubic meters of gas to Syria yearly at present price. Turkey also favors this issue. Certainly, this pipeline will lead to creation of new atmosphere in the relationship among Azerbaijan, Turkey and Syria. Earlier, political relationship between Turkey and Syria was poor. Today, Turkey is our brother, in true sense of the word. I think Turkey connects Azerbaijan and Syria geographically since the distance is not so long via Turkey.

Syria and Iran have good relations. Iran-Azerbaijan relations are developing. Instability in Iraq is, undoubtedly, not permanent. We see political situation in Iraq started normalizing.

After our countries gained independence, there were attempts to undermine stability both in Azerbaijan and Syria. They were resolutely prevented. Developing relations, which serve our interests, we must be stronger. Azerbaijan and Syria are tied with indissoluble bonds in all spheres. Azerbaijan opened doors to us to all sectors of its economy. There are no problems for our ties, and it has positive impact on development of bilateral relationship. At the same time, we successfully cooperate within OIC and other international organizations. First of all, we can effectively cooperate in the gas and railway fields. We have extensive railway network. The first “train of the 21st century” moved en route Syria-Mediterranean-Persian Gulf via Iraq.

At the same time, we know that a railway is being built between Azerbaijan and Turkey via Georgia. Perhaps, all these evolution processes will facilitate export and import operations between the countries. We know that huge economic reforms had been carried out in Azerbaijan. Economic reforms were also implemented in Syria. Of course, every country has its specific features. For example, we have little gas and you have much. We can make use of our possibilities on the mutually beneficial basis, without harming interests of our countries.

Azerbaijan is a country, which switched from the centrally planned economy to market relations. So did we. A few years ago, we embarked on huge reforms, process of privatization, and we are going to develop relations with other countries. Well-developed industry is the specific feature of Syrian economy. We have to be ready to compete with European markets. Our industry is gradually moving towards European standards. Undoubtedly, we face tough competition in the world market. Every country faces it. We try to withstand this competition. Modern infrastructure exists in Syria. It will need tens of billions of investment in the years to come. We want to create an effective mechanism, which could coordinate activity of Syrian and Azerbaijani businessmen. Our businessmen must make their proposals, using today`s opportunities, and we must move ahead.

My esteemed friend President Ilham Aliyev and I will enhance attention towards development of economic relations between our countries.

I express my gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for providing us with opportunity to meet in this format and wish every success to all of you. Thank you very much!

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