IT’S POSSIBLE TO CREATE A NEW TRANSPORTATION ROUTE TO BE NAMED "SOUTHERN CORRIDOR" – PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN
Trend
Oct 21 2009
Azerbaijan
Reciprocal interests of Azerbaijan and Switzerland in the energy
sphere may help the countries in forming a new transportation route
to be named "Southern corridor", said the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev on the joint press conference with the President of
Switzerland Hans-Rudolf Merz in Bern, State News Agency Azertaj
reported on Tuesday.
"We have big potential in this sphere. We have common perspectives
related to the European energy security. With its rich oil and gas
reserves, Azerbaijan is ready to supply its energy carriers to its
partners in Europe. Our reciprocal interests in this respect may
help us in forming a new transportation route to be named "Southern
corridor", said the President.
According to him, the first official visit of an Azerbaijani president
to Switzerland is an important step towards developing the bilateral
relations.
"I consider this visit, the first official visit of an Azerbaijani
president to Switzerland, an important step towards developing
the bilateral relations. We enjoy the successfully developing
ties. Early this year we met with you in Davos and had very interesting
discussions. And today we are continuing our dialogue. This dialogue
covers a variety of spheres. We have had very good results and this
can be continued as our relations are very promising. Over the last
few years our relations have seen dynamic development. Reciprocal
visits by presidents and delegations, creation of friendship groups
at the Swiss and Azerbaijani parliaments and the holding of the
Azerbaijani culture days in Switzerland are all important elements
of our bilateral relations’, President of Azerbaijan said.
As Ilham Aliyev said, economic relations between the two countries
are successfully developing despite the global financial crisis.
"Switzerland is a close partner and friend of ours. Mr. President,
the atmosphere that you have created here today is the atmosphere of
real friendship. We have discussed very important issues concerning our
bilateral relations and ways of developing them. We`ve also explored
opportunities for implementing joint investment projects both in
Switzerland and Azerbaijan. Our trade is increasingly growing,
and our economic relations are successfully developing despite the
global financial crisis. We have also discussed settlement of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. I`ve updated Mr.
President on latest developments in the talks", he said.
Azerbaijani President expressed confidence that in the coming years,
the relations between the two countries will develop successfully.
"I believe our relations will continue developing in future. We have
all necessary conditions for this – political will, strong political
ties, reciprocal attractiveness of our economies and favorable
investment opportunities. We have adherence and ability to pursue an
independent policy, we have a favorable geographical location and we
have a desire to build closer relations for the prosperity of our
peoples and countries. I`m greatly satisfied with our discussions,
our meeting has been very fruitful. It has allowed us to focus on
traditional issues of mutual interest and outline our new priorities",
Ilham Aliyev said.