President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Natiq Aliyev and President of KeppelFELS” corporation Lim Chie warmly greeted Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev. Prime Minister was informed that this big rig with up-to-date equipment and estimated at 250 million dollars, constructed by means of hard work of a joint venture Caspian Shipyard Company” founded by SOCAR, LUKoil and KeppelFELS is able to drill exploration wells at the depth of 9144 meters at water depth of between 75 and 1025 meters.

Prime Minister learnt all opportunities of this giant drilling rig, having no analogues in the world and foreseen for exploration of oil and gas fields at deep-water parts of the Azerbaijani sectors of the Caspian. This rig will play an extremely important role in economy of independent Azerbaijan, putting into life oil strategy of President Heydar Aliyev.

Construction of the rig started in August 2001 and competed 2 month before the schedule. The rig was constructed by 80 percent by Azerbaijani specialists. The drilling rig created by efforts of ExxonMobil, Chevron Texaco, ConocoPhillips and Total Companies, is meant to speed up drilling woks at such exploration blocks as Alov, Sharq, Zafar, Mashal, Savalan, situated in deep-water part of the Caspian Sea. A three-year drilling program is to be implemented by means of this rig. Besides, it is the first of many rigs to operate in the Caspian Sea.

Having expressed his satisfaction with the rig, Prime Minister Ilham Aliyev gave an interview to journalists:

QUESTION: Mr. Aliyev, what kind of impression the rig has produced on you?

ANSWER: Very good impressions; it is a huge rig, the only semi-submersible drilling rig of this kind in the Caspian. Of course, this rig will serve Azerbaijan people for many years to come and, sure, will discover new oil fields for Azerbaijan.

QUESTION: Mr. Aliyev, reports concerning President Heydar Aliyev’s departure for Cleveland have appeared in the press, we would like you to make things clear, how are things going?

ANSWER: Mr. President left, yesterday, for Cleveland by plane and reached there today, at about 3.00 – 4.00 a.m. I have just been informed that Mr. President is in the Cleveland hospital, and that everything is all right.

QUESTION: When is he expected back?

ANSWER: Doctors must say that, of course, it is night now in Cleveland. Examination is starting in few hours, and then I can say something.

QUESTION: Mr.Aliyev, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has invited you to visit the country: will the visit be paid.

ANSWER: Yes, of course, I have accepted the invitation with gratitude. Prime Minister Mr. Erdogan had invited me during our telephone conversation. Then, it was reflected in his letter of congratulation. I told him I would try to visit with great pleasure the fraternal country within the few next days.

QUESTION: Mr.Aliyev, mass media has been spreading different reports concerning the President’s diagnosis, ribs fracture, how is he actually feeling?

ANSWER: He is feeling well. Of course, the ribs fracture has effect on Mr. President’s physical state. You may have felt it as well. Besides, he had started working not being completely recovered. It contradicted the doctors’ recommendations. In all, however, his is in normal health. But there is a need for certain treatment.

QUESTION: Mr.Aliyev, is a surgical operation expected?

ANSWER: It may become the subject of profiteering. I cannot say anything in this regard. I think there will not be a need for that. If it appears, the highly qualified doctors working there will perform the operation. Today, there is no necessity of that.

QUESTION: There is information that on the eve of elections, the opposition will try to confuse the people in the country. Yesterday they have stated that they would arrange protest actions in the regions and cities of the Republic. How do you regard that?

ANSWER: You know, this is not interesting for me. The people are well aware of their actions. Some two-three thousand people attend their meetings and those also quit the action after they get money. I mean such actions do not concern neither me, nor the government and power. I think the opposition must engage in its agitation, take part at the run-up election campaign. I would advice them this. As it concerns to recognize or not to recognize somebody, or announce hunger strike, this is an irony for me. I know that those who are on hunger strike, in the evening go home and have their supper, and in the morning all continue again.

QUESTION: The oil companies functioning in the country are accused to be engaged in lobbying and even they name the BP Company.

ANSWER: I consider it as their regular provocation against the foreign oil companies. The oil companies operating in Azerbaijan never intrude to the political processes. In my previous position in SOCAR as the first vice-president of the State Oil Company, have several times requested them to stay beyond the political events. They have singed commercial contracts with the Azerbaijan government and should implement their activities in this frame. With a feeling of pleasure I would stress that from the first day of their operation, neither BP, nor other foreign oil company has interfere the political processes. And they will not do.

Such slanders of opposition towards them are not new. Earlier, some opposition leaders made numerous statements to confuse the foreign companies and force them suspend their activities. Some of them told in coming to power they would suspend the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan project and abolish all the contracts Azerbaijan have signed. They sent such threats to the oil companies. The companies operating in the country were always different to their ideas and claims. I would reiterate that there is no lobbying and should not be. No need of it.

QUESTION: Are you satisfied with the reaction towards your appointment as Prime Minister?

ANSWER: I am. I think, in the whole, the reaction has an importance for my activity. But as a man, I am, of course, pleased with the congratulations of my colleagues, the people leading the governments of the developed countries. I am very pleased and it is very honorable. I am rather interested in the reaction within the country. According to data, it is also enough positive. This appointment was welcomed and the people felt quiet.

I am aware that one of the key issues concerning our people, is that the social-political order could be preserved in Azerbaijan, that was not violated the stability, not emerged chaos, anarchy. Our citizens are afraid of it. From this standpoint, as it seems, of course, it is expedient and true. Therefore, I am pleased that in the whole. The public positively regarded this.

QUESTION: Mr. Aliyev, you take part at the elections together with Mr. President. Do you see among the candidates to President from the opposition or other candidates equal to yourself and President?

ANSWER: You know, I consider, it is necessary to regard respectfully each candidate. My personal opinion is that there is alternative in Azerbaijan to the policy pursued by Heydar Aliyev. It is the only true policy, giving its fruits. Azerbaijan is developing, becomes a strong state. In Azerbaijan, are being realized large-scale international projects. As you see, there is being constructed gigantic drilling rigs here. Therefore, I consider it is necessary to continue this policy in the name of future Azerbaijan, its further development.

Personally, I do not admit with optimism the opportunities of opposition representatives wishing to hold the post of president. I think, they are backed in very low level. However, I consider - and it is demanded by political ethics – each candidate should be regarded with respect.

QUESTION: You have taken an unpaid leave to take part at the elections. It is interesting, how will be the election platform of Ilham Aliyev in bound with the Karabakh problem?

ANSWER: I have several times stated that and I would restate, that the goal of my consent to the proposal of nominating to the candidacy of the post of president is that to take an active part at the election campaign of Mr. President.

Of course, my position, platform, and worldview are exclusively in the frame of the policy pursued by Mr. President. There cannot be any principle difference.

As is concerns to the Karabakh problem, here, of course, I suppose that we should strive to settle it by peace way. The people of Azerbaijan wishes peace, not war. During the ceasefire, Azerbaijan undertook extremely important steps, achieved great accomplishments. If to compare with Armenia, then one can clearly see that this period there was accompanied with decrease. Some times I am questioned: what are the sequences of the war? I seriously respond that, as it seems to me, - may be it sounds contradicting – they are in favor of Azerbaijan. Yes, Azerbaijan has lost certain part of its lands. There are over one million of refugees and IDPs in the country. But, along with this, during the ceasefire regime, Azerbaijan undertook very successful measures both on the political arena and in the economy. Abyss between economic situation in Armenia and Azerbaijan becomes deeper and deeper. After several years, Azerbaijan will become a strong, rich state. Armenia, however, is deprived of such perspective. Their perspective is that they hope for assistance this or that foreign state and not to die of hunger. Therefore, I consider, that the current policy is supported in Azerbaijan, and it will enable to reach the defined goals at the peace negotiations. If we shall trust that all the opportunities have exhausted, then, it seems, Azerbaijan has full right to undertake every step to restore its territorial integrity.

QUESTION: You will meet with the Prime Minister of Turkey. Will the opening of borders between Turkey and Armenia be discussed?

ANSWER: You know, it seems, this issue has been something exaggerated. I do not believe in the existence of such ideas, tendencies. Of course, we shall focus all the issues concerning the two countries, including this question. But this question is not so serious to put on the agenda. It has been artificially exaggerated by some circles. I consider, the point is not on this or that alterations. The Turkish-Azerbaijani relations have been established on the base of friendship and fraternity. WE are one nation, two states. There exist and will exist just the atmosphere of mutual understanding, friendship and good intentions between us.

QUESTION: Mr. Aliyev, in your remarks at the Cabinet of Ministers, You said that Artur Rasizade is a true friend to Heydar Aliyev. How do you think, can it be told on all the present ruling command?

ANSWER: I refer it to all. And I think, my key goal, as a Premier, is not to admit any discrimination. It is a reliable command. These people are constant friends to Heydar Aliyev, his policy. I noted it that these people knew that I regard them positively. Let each of them quietly work at his post and do not fall under possible rumors, provocations.

You know, currently one of the directions of activity of the opposition is to cause within the power contradictions, oppose to each other the people, disseminate numerous rumors etc. I consider that the people representing in the power should not pay attention to this. I do not read the opposition press, and think that if they will not be read, then, they will not exist at all. In Azerbaijan, there is a single command created by Heydar Aliyev, and I am also one of the members of this command.

Thank you.