AzerTag, Azerbaijan
March 11 2005

PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES DELEGATION OF UN
SOCIO-ECONOMIC COMMISSION ON ASIA AND PACIFIC AND DELEGATION OF
ECONOMIC COMMISSION ON EUROPE
[March 11, 2005, 17:17:17]

President of the Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev on March 11 at the
President Palace has received the delegation of UN Economic-Social
Commission on Asia and Pacific (UNESCAP) and delegation of UN
Economic Commission on Europe (UNECE).

Noting that visit of the delegations of UNESCAP and UNECE to the
country opens a new page in cooperation, the Head of the Azerbaijan
State dwelt on the economic development processes in the Republic,
stressing macroeconomic and other economic indices.

Speaking of realization of a number of economic programs, including
regional development and poverty reduction, President Ilham Aliyev
said in the last year over 170 thousand workplaces have been opened
in the country, emphasizing that cooperation with the international
structures in this field is high level. As he underlined, large
energy projects are successfully being realized in Azerbaijan and the
main is that there is special attention for social security issues.

Touching upon the question of regional cooperation, President Ilham
Aliyev said the ongoing economic development processes in Azerbaijan
and socio-political stability make contribution to establishment of
cooperation, peace and security in the region. Unfortunately,
aggression by Armenia to Azerbaijan, as a result of which over 20
percent of Azerbaijan~Rs lands were occupied, one million of citizens
became refugees and IDPs, seriously impedes cooperation and economic
development in the region. Continuation of the conflict is a great
threat to regional safety, advancement of economic processes. The
international organizations should increase their efforts towards
similar issues.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that visit of the
delegations to the Country would serve expansion of international
economic links, strengthening of the mutually beneficial ties between
Azerbaijan and UNESCAP and UNECE.

Executive Secretary of the UNECE, UN Assistant Secretary General
Brigitta Schmognerova highly assessed admission of Azerbaijan to
UNESCAP. Giving great value to active participation of Azerbaijan in
the regional development processes, she said UESCAP and UNECE
welcomes cooperation with the Country. Brigitta Schmognerova stressed
the importance of these processes and expressed confidence that
admission of Azerbaijan to UNESCAP is of great significance for
expansion of regional economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and
Central Asian countries. She reiterated that the mutual cooperation
would further enhance and develop.