Today.Az » Politics » Presidential administration official: Baku attaches great importance to Saakashvili's visit
22 May 2009 [11:11] - Today.Az
Baku is interested in the political and economic stability of Georgia, chief of department of the presidential administration of Azerbaijan Fuad Akhundov said, according to Interfax-Azerbaijan.
"Both Baku and Tbilisi attach great importance to the visit of President of Georgia to Azerbaijan and its results. The developed relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia are important not only for the two peoples, but also for regional stability and security.
This thesis of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is of the utmost importance, especially in the current difficult conditions in the South Caucasus region", said F. Akhundov, commenting on the outcome of the visit of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili to Azerbaijan.
He noted that Georgia is the leading trading partner of Baku in the CIS following Russia and Ukraine.
"The volume of trade turnover between the two countries in 2008 exceeded $ 500 million. By results of the first quarter of this year, Georgia outstripped Ukraine on the list of leading trade partners of Azerbaijan - with its over $ 130 million
It is clear that the basis of these figures lies on the export of Azerbaijani oil and gas to Georgia, but it is important to note that the parties are now actively working to improve the structure of export-import operations", said F. Akhundov.
With regard to the dominant energy component in bilateral relations, he said this allows both countries to effectively address their economic and social objectives.
" For Georgia it is stable provision of gas to industrial enterprises and population, independent of external conjuncture as well as higher revenues in the budget. In other words, this is a foundation of social stability and economic growth. We know that SOCAR branch in Georgia is the leading taxpayer in the country. Its contribution to the budget - which is more than $ 100 million is a record indicator for Georgia and its economy", said F. Akhundov.
"For Azerbaijan the energy cooperation aspect is also important, both in terms of access to the domestic market of Georgia, and - through Georgia - to the Black Sea and further to Europe.
In addition, Azeri investments in this area allow to solve the actual problem of employment of the Azerbaijani population in Georgia, the social and economic development of Azerbaijani settlements in the region of Kvemo Kartli", he said.
Another important outcome of the meetings and talks was, according to F. Akhundov, that the parties reaffirmed their principled commitment to the implementation of regional and international energy and transport projects, notably the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars. The chief of department drew particular attention to the statement of President Ilham Aliyev about Azerbaijan's unambiguous support to Prague arrangements for the South corridor project.
In this context of cooperation between the two countries in international organizations F. Akhundov drew attention to the statement of President of Azerbaijan that the parties will continue to provide mutual political support in this format. The joint participation in the Eastern Partnership initiative with Georgia, launched in Prague on May 8, is also promising for Azerbaijan.
"An important issue in the bilateral dialogue and cooperation, which President Ilham Aliyev has traditionally paid particular attention to is a settlement of relevant socio-economic and humanitarian problems facing the Azeri community of Georgia. Baku expects Tbilisi's substantive support to the improvement of the socio-economic status of Georgian Azerbaijanis, addressing issues related to their employment, quality and affordable education in state and Azerbaijani languages, providing land, and so on", said F. Akhundov.
In general, he said, it means that Georgia should fully protect the rights and freedoms of the Azeri ethnic minority in line with its commitments under the related international and European conventions.
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