On the 24th of May, President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev received at the Presidential Palace, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Russian Joint Stock Company “Unified Electric System of Russia” /JSC UES/ Anatoliy Chubais.

Expressing satisfaction with the meetings held by Anatoriy Chubays in Baku, the Head of State described Azerbaijan-Russia relations as developing very successfully in all spheres.

The Azerbaijan President’s visit to Russia has become one more evidence that the two countries had established very active cooperation in all spheres, including full mutual understanding both in economic and political ones. It is very gratifying fact, and it shows the policy of good neighboring brings very good results, he said.

President Ilham Aliyev stressed the high level of mutually beneficial energy cooperation as well noting particularly that the joint oil and gas transportation projects bring economic benefit to both sides. According to him, the growing Russia-Azerbaijan cooperation in electric power field is also very useful. We want to further develop this cooperation for electricity exchange to be carried out in a fuller measure, the Head of State said.

Finally, President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that Mr. Chubays’ visit and the meetings he had held in Baku will promote further development of this sphere.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Russian Joint Stock Company “Unified Energy System of Russia” Anatoliy Chubays first shared his impressions of his first staying in Baku. “While laying flower at the tomb of Heydar Aliyevich, I remembered this person, and one very special meeting I once had with him. We were talking for over two hours. My impressions of this meeting remained, literally, for the rest of my life. He was indeed a person of historic scale. Therefore, apart from professional affairs, I have gained personal impressions today, and they are very valuable and dear to me,” the Chief of UES of Russia said.

Mr. A. Chubays further informed the President about his meetings at the SSC Azerenergy and the Government. He noted that strategy and considerable advancement in cooperation have good prospects, and that Russia is watching with interest the economic growth in Azerbaijan. The progress is steady, and the inflation rate is quite low: this means that Azerbaijan has entered the phase of serious economic development, and therefore, the demand for electricity will be growing, he said.

The guest also touched upon Russia-Azerbaijan-Iran cooperation in this sphere, particularly, the issue of synchronization of electric power systems that, according to him will bring benefit to these countries. Apart from this, he said, the energy facilities purchased by the company in Georgia will allow to strengthen Russia’s cooperation with Azerbaijan and Georgia, and provide reliable energy supply for these countries. To this end, a working group has been formed. To move forward in these directions, we need Your, President’s principle position, that of recognized leader of the Republic, Anatoliy Chubays said.

Present at the meeting were first Vice-Premier of the Azerbaijan Government Yagub Eyubov, President of JSC Azerenergy Etibar Pirverdiyev and Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan Nikolay Ryabov.