ANDAR SHUKPUTOV: KAZAKHSTAN SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Dec 14 2006
Kazakhstan Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan
Andar Shukputov’s exclusive interview to the APA
– You are celebrating the 15th anniversary of Independence of
Kazakhstan. How will you characterize the importance of this date?
– On December 16, 1991 Kazakhstan adopted Constitutional law on the
independence day of the Republic of Kazakhstan. This law was adopted
in the hard periods of Kazakhstan. The economic indicators were low
during those years and the main institutions were not working. But
Kazakhstan’s government had a serious aim and as the result of policy,
we achieved to go out of the crisis. The reforms had been carried
out in all spheres and these reforms contributed to the flourishing
of our country.
– How do you evaluate the work of Azerbaijani Diasporas in Kazakhstan?
– As far as I know the representatives of 130 nations live in
Kazakhstan. During the collapse of the empire, Kazakhstan could
prevent the leaving of its citizens. Even now the number of the
nations living in our country has increased by several times. There
are Azerbaijanis among them too. There is an organization called
the Assembly of Kazakhstan nations. This organization settles
the problems of the development of the statehood. The Azerbaijanis
living in Azerbaijan has a social organization called Turan. Besides,
Azerbaijanis have different social organizations in every region,
such as Gobustan, Vatan, Heydar and others. The leader of the Turan
Azerbaijanis Congress visited Azerbaijan together with Kazakhstan
President Nursultan Nazarbayev last year. As to the problems of the
Azerbaijanis living in Kazakhstan, market economy relations exist
in this country. Everybody can improve his way of living using the
opportunities created for the citizens.
– Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan political relations have always differed
by stability…
– The root of our history and culture is the same. Therefore there
have always been relations between these countries and it continues.
Heydar Aliyev and Nursultan Nazarbayev’s friendship paved the way
for the new stage of relations between the two countries. Azerbaijani
president Ilham Aliyev within three years of his presidentcy visited
Kazakhstan three times. Kazakhstan President also visited Azerbaijan
last year. The activity of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan intergovernmental
commission has intensified.
– Are you satisfied with the economic relations between the countries?
– The economic relations between our countries are based on the
realization of bilateral projects. We use Baku-Batumi line for
transportation of Kazakhstan’s oil. Within Ilham Aliyev’s visit to
Kazakhstan the presidents signed a treaty on the transportation of
Kazakhstan’s oil by Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. I am often asked
when Kazakhstan will join Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. The terms
are being agreed on the transportation of Kazakhstan’s oil by the
pipeline. These terms include price, volume and other issues.
Baku-Tbilisi-Akhalkalak-Gars railway project is the second great
project for Kazakhstan. If this railway is built from Baku till Gars
and we get an outlet to Europe. Another great project is connected
with the grain production. There is a big grain terminal in Aktau.
Kazakhstan produces 16 million tons grain a year, 6-7 tons of which
can import to Azerbaijan.
– How does the official Astana estimate the latest processes in the
settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict?
– We have expressed our position on Nagorno Karabakh conflict several
times. Kazakhstan supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and
highly estimates the activity of OSCE Minsk Group. We are for the
peaceful solution to Nagorno Karabakh conflict.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress