PRESIDENT ILHAM ALIYEV ATTENDS BLED STRATEGIC FORUM CASPIAN OUTLOOK-2008
According to the AZERTAC correspondent, opening the forum Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia Dr Dimitrij Rupel described it as a place of convergence of strategic interests. He underlined the importance of the Caspian oil and gas resources for energy security in Europe, and, therefore, of maintenances of stability in the Caspian Sea region.
The Minister thanked President Ilham Aliyev for attendance at the forum noting it is the good opportunity for its participants to learn more about the economic progress Azerbaijan has achieved over the past years.
Speaking Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa pointed out the strategic importance of the forum, which he said opens new opportunities for cooperation in energy sector. He described the need to ensure safe transportation of oil and gas to the world markets and, thereby, energy security in Europe, as the demands of the times.
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Speaking of strategic role of the Caspian basin, the Premier of Slovenia noted the Caspian gas is of great importance for both exporter and producers. Emphasizing necessity of cooperation on the South Caucasus, Janes Jansa said all are interested in economic integration, in development of free economy, in maintenance of peace and stability in region. At his words, in 2008, Slovenia will preside at the European Union, and his country will try to give new impulse to mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy field.
President of Azerbaijan addressed the Forum.
Head of the Azerbaijan State said Azerbaijan is a leading country in production of energy recourses on the Caspian basin and in transportation of them to the world markets, environment for foreign investment in the country.
Reminding the global projects to transport energy carriers of Azerbaijan to the world and European markets, President said currently the country’s transport system gets strong investment. Works are underway to raise efficiency of the East-West transport corridor.
President Aliyev spoke of gas resources in Azerbaijan, underlining that the gas produced at the Shahdeniz field on Caspian will make important contribution to the energy safety of Europe, and by launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas main Azerbaijan will become a gas exporter.
Noting that political reforms cannot be duly implemented without economic development, President Aliyev updated on the legal, democratic, civil state building processes in the Republic.
The President also highlighted on the large-scale projects to tackle the non-oil-sector as well. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to integration to the Euro-Atlantic space.
Armenia, which occupied 20 percent of the country’s territory, is the main threat for peace and stability in region, President of Azerbaijan stressed. As known, this country ignores Four Resolutions of the United Nations and brutally violates international legal norms. Azerbaijan adheres peaceful settlement of the question, he said, reminding other conflicts in the world, noted that he is for inter-civilizations dialogue.
President of Azerbaijan wished success to the Forum, expressing that it would be useful for economic cooperation of the countries.
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