Azeri speaker vows diaspora support for Ukrainian premier in presidential polls
ANS TV, Baku
27 Sep 04
[Presenter] The Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker Murtuz Alasgarov
is already in Ukraine. At today’s meeting with Ukrainian Prime Minister
Viktor Yanukovych, the sides mainly discussed relations between Baku
and Kiev, the economy, trade and relations between the Azerbaijani
and Ukrainian parliaments, as well as the Nagornyy Karabakh problem.
[Correspondent over archive footage] During his visit to Ukraine,
Alasgarov had talks with Yanukovych and discussed topics of mutual
interest. Alasgarov told Yanukovych that the Azeri diaspora in Ukraine
will support him in the upcoming presidential elections.
Alasgarov said that he managed to meet representatives of the
diaspora during his visit to Ukraine and they assured him that the
500,000-strong Azeri diaspora has already decided to vote for the
Ukrainian prime minister.
In turn, Yanukovych said that he supports the development of economic
ties between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and Kiev is interested in doubling
trade with Azerbaijan. He said that bilateral trade grew by 50 per
cent in 2004 and the bilateral economic commission believes that
there is potential for further growth. He said that the decision
of the Azerbaijani government to jointly produce An-148 planes is a
vivid example of the two countries’ interest in expanding economic
cooperation.