Azerbaijani president attends World Economic Forum session on Europe's energy future in Davos - PHOTOS - UPDATE

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the World Economic Forum's (WEF) session on Europe's energy future in Davos, Switzerland on January 28.

The Annual Meeting provides a rethinking of systems and exploration of strategies and solutions that have positive transformational implications. Particular emphasis will be placed on addressing the question of "How", going beyond analysis and elaborating innovative ideas and solutions to key global challenges.

For more than four decades, the Annual Meeting has provided leaders from industry, government, academia, civil society and the media with an unrivalled platform to shape the global agenda and catalyse solutions at the start of each year.

The WEF Annual Meeting brings together over 2,500 delegates from more than 100 countries, chief executives of the world's leading global businesses, representing the Forum’s 1,000 Member companies, politicians from the G20 and other key countries – including over 30 heads of state and government, heads of all major international organizations, chairs of the 72 Global Agenda Councils - representing a network of over 1,200 experts - representatives from civil society stakeholder groups, media leaders representing the top news organizations from around the world, young global leaders, social entrepreneurs, technology pioneers and spiritual and cultural leaders.

The session featured discussions on a number of issues, including geopolitical concerns, strategic pipelines and low-carbon networks.

President Ilham Aliyev highlighted Azerbaijan`s role in Europe`s energy system. The Azerbaijani leader also spoke of the country`s cooperation with the European Union, and prospects within the South Corridor project.

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has held several meetings in Switzerland as part of his participation in Davos Forum.

President Aliyev met with Prince Andrew, Duke of York of Great Britain in Davos on January 28. The parties emphasized that economic relations between Azerbaijan and Great Britain are successfully developing. They also exchanged views on prospects for cooperation in the field of economy between two countries.

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President Aliyev met with Chief Executive Officer of RWE Company Jurgen Grossman on January 28.

They stressed successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and RWE Company continues. The parties underlined RWE Company has built productive cooperation with Azerbaijan in the energy sector. They also stressed the importance of energy cooperation.

Mr. Grossman said RWE Company is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan and all Caspian regions and make investment in the country.

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Jan. 28
18:27

Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has today met here with Ukrainian counterpart Viktor
Yanukovych. After the meeting, Azerbaijan and Ukraine signed two documents with the attendance of the Presidents.

An agreement on actions to develop cooperation on oil transportation via Ukraine and a memorandum on organization of delivery of compressed gas to Ukraine were signed by Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Boiko and Azerbaijan`s Industry and Energy Minister Natig Aliyev.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev in Davos, Switzerland, has today met with President of the Republic of Poland Bronislav Komorowski. Both Presidents stressed cooperation between Azerbaijan and Poland was successfully developing. The meeting focused on bilateral relations and cooperation in energy sector.

The parties stressed the importance of cooperation between Azerbaijan and European Union as part of the Eastern Partnership program and Poland`s strong support of this project.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence relations between Azerbaijan and Poland would further develop. The President underlined fruitful cooperation between two countries in various fields, including politics and economy.

President Ilham Aliyev also has invited Polish President Bronislav Komorowski to visit Azerbaijan.

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10:22

President Aliyev met here with Austrian Minister for European and International Affairs Michael Spindelegger on Thursday.

They stressed bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Austria were successfully developing. The parties underlined cooperation between the countries is in at high level, and fruitful activity of Austrian companies in Azerbaijan in various fields is an evidence of this.

They underlined successful energy cooperation between Austria and Azerbaijan, saying OMV company's cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field is effective.

During the meeting, they discussed prospects for development of relations even more.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met here with Vice-President of Microsoft Corporation and President of Microsoft International Jean-Philippe Courtois on January 27.

Courtouis recalled his previous meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. He thanked the Head of State for supporting the company in its effective operations in the country. He underlined President Ilham Aliyev`s ideas to convert oil revenues into human capital and the importance of much spending on education system in Azerbaijan.

President Ilham Aliyev said he is keen on Microsoft`s expanding its presence in Azerbaijan and country`s cooperating with the company. The President pointed out information and communication technologies are developing in Azerbaijan and that there are good opportunities for Microsoft to do business in the country.

The parties underscored that results of growth rates in Azerbaijan and President Ilham Aliyev`s activity in this direction open up good opportunities for deepening cooperation with Microsoft.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met here with chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TOTAL, French multinational oil company, Christophe de Margerie on Thursday.

The sides discussed the activity of TOTAL in Azerbaijan and its operations focused on development of Shahdaniz and Absheron gas fields.

They also exchanged views on current state of and prospects for cooperation between the company and the country.

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President Ilham Aliyev met Thursday here with BP Board Chairman and Non-executive Director Carl-Henric Svanberg.

Active cooperation between Azerbaijan and BP since 1994 has been underlined at the meeting. The sides highlighted the importance of BP`s participation in implementation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline projects and development Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli and Shahdeniz fields as well as agreements signed for Shafag-Asiman fields.

The parties pointed out Azerbaijan-BP cooperation is strategic and expressed confidence that this cooperation would continue to develop. Discussions also revolved around prospects for cooperation.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev participated in the joint Austria- OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) lunch on the sidelines of the 41st World Economic Forum here on Thursday.

The ceremony, which brought together renowned politicians and businessmen, has seen a rising interest in Azerbaijan.

Speaking at the ceremony Federal Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann, Kazakhstan`s Prime Minister Karim Masimov, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and others highlighted the nature of the World Economic Forum and touched on the importance of the forum in terms of building economic and political ties

President Ilham Aliyev made remarks at the ceremony.

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Azerbaijan`s President lham Aliyev met President of LUKoil, Russian largest oil company Vahid Alakbarov in Davos on Thursday. Productive cooperation between Azerbaijan and LUKoil for long years has been underlined at the meeting. The parties stressed the company has worked successfully in terms of investing in Azerbaijan.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met Thursday with President of the Swiss Confederation Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey in Davos.

The Switzerland`s President underlined the importance of energy cooperation with Azerbaijan. She said Switzerland successfully cooperates with Azerbaijan`s respective agencies.

Calmy-Rey noted described Azerbaijan as an important partner for her country. She underscored the Azerbaijan`s special role in development of the Southern Corridor, adding Switzerland is keen on the Trans-Adriatic pipeline and supports this project.

President Ilham Aliyev pointed out bilateral relations between the two countries are successfully developing in a variety of fields including the energy one. The Head of State noted Azerbaijan backs Southern Corridor`s projects including Trans-Adriatic pipeline project.

The Head of State noted Azerbaijan successfully cooperates with the European Union in the energy sector. He expressed satisfaction with Switzerland`s interest in the Southern Corridor projects.

Discussions also revolved around peace talks on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

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Jan. 27
11:50

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held several meetings in Switzerland as part of his participation in Davos Forum on January 26. President Aliyev met with chairman of the SK Group Chey Tae-won in Davos.

Tae-won informed the Head of State on the operations, prospects of the company. He said one of SK Group`s divisions is working on building the intelligent transportation system in Baku.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that the intelligent transportation system, which was discussed during his visit to the Republic of Korea, would be commissioned very soon in Azerbaijan.

The Head of State underlined Korean and Azerbaijani companies are actively cooperating, adding there is good potential for expanding these ties.

SK Group was founded in 1953. It is the fourth largest conglomerate in South Korea. The SK Group is composed of 92 subsidiary and affiliate companies that share the SK brand and culture.

SK Group has more than 30,000 employees who work from 113 offices worldwide. While its business mainly based on chemical, petroleum and energy industries, it also provides services in construction, shipping, marketing, local telephone, mobile phone, high-speed Internet, and wireless broadband service WiBro. The company`s revenue reached some 80 bln dollars in 2009 alone.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met President of TeliaSonera Eurasia Company Tero Kivisaari in Davos.

They underlined active cooperation has been build between the company and the country. The parties stressed the importance of expanding this cooperation. Mr. Kivisaari thanked President Ilham Aliyev for supporting the activity of the TeliaSonera Eurasia in Azerbaijan.

He said the TeliaSonera Eurasia Company attaches great importance to cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of information and communication technologies.

They also discussed current state of and prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the TeliaSonera Eurasia Company.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also met here with Chairperson of Huawei Technologies Corporation, Ms. Yafang Sun. Sun said the corporation is interested in long-term cooperation with Azerbaijan. She pointed out the corporation had built an active cooperation with Azerbaijan in some fields.

According to her, Huawei Technologies is keen on cooperating with Azerbaijan in the mobile communication, internet and information and communication technologies.

The Head of State said he is satisfied with company’s active cooperation with Azerbaijan and its participation in the last “Bakutel” exhibition. The Azerbaijani leader expressed hope that Huawei Technologies would expand its presence in Azerbaijan.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met Chief Executive Officer and President of Statoil Helge Lund. Mr. Lund hailed the Azerbaijan-Statoil cooperation, describing it as long-standing and successful.

The Statoil CEO praised President Ilham Aliyev`s contribution to deepening the bilateral cooperation between the country and the company.

Mr. Lund said Statoil attached particular emphasis to cooperation with Azerbaijan.

“Cooperating with Azerbaijan is one of the key priorities of our strategy,” he noted.
President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Statoil enjoyed effective cooperation, expressing confidence it would further develop.

The Azerbaijani leader praised Statoil`s participation in exploration of the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli field and the company`s making investment in the country.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Chief Executive Officer of Edison Oil Company Umberto Quadrino in Davos on January 26.

They discussed cooperation between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan and Edison. Discussions also revolved around prospects of the Southern Corridor and Turkey-Greece-Italy gas pipeline projects cooperation.


/AzerTAc/

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President Ilham Aliyev arrives in Switzerland