AzerTag, Azerbaijan State Info Agency
Nov 14 2004
PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN ILHAM ALIYEV RECEIVES DELEGATION OF EUROPEAN
COMMISSION LED BY DIRECTOR FOR ENERGY AND TRANSPORT FRANCOIS
LAMOUREUX
[November 13, 2004, 21:50:19]
On November 13, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev
received a delegation of European Commission led by Director for
Energy and Transport Francois Lamoureux.
Warmly greeting the guests, President Ilham Aliyev described the fact
of conducting two EC – initiated conferences of Energy Ministers of
11 countries and Transport Ministers of 14 countries as extremely
important. He stressed that issues of the conference agenda are of
special significance for both Azerbaijan and the whole region.
Noting that energy and transport are very important factors of
economic development of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said over
the past years, the country has gained considerable progress in these
fields. The Head of Sate stated that realization of the large-scale
energy projects in Azerbaijan is a good example of fruitful regional
cooperation and an indication of efficiency of joining efforts.
President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan is proud of its
achievements in this sphere. Holding of such events in our country
creates an opportunity to discuss very important economic issues, and
contributes to further strengthening of energy and transport
infrastructure in Azerbaijan, he said.
The President pointed out the progress Azerbaijan has achieved over
the last years in transport, noting the modern passenger aircrafts
and oil tankers the country has purchased as well as reconstruction
of motor road along the Great Silk Road etc. form a good basis for
creation of a world-class transport infrastructure in Azerbaijan.
The Head of Sate also mentioned the rising importance of Azerbaijan
as a transport corridor between East and West. Speaking with
satisfaction about rapid development of the country’s relations with
the European Union, he noted that it has become an active participant
of the organizations’ new neighborhood policy. President Ilham Aliyev
expressed confidence that this fact would promote realization of
concrete projects and programs in the framework of cooperation
between Azerbaijan and the European Union.
The Azerbaijani leader described the EU’s increasing attention to
Azerbaijan, particularly, to settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan
conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh and liberation of the country’s lands
from occupation as a very positive fact. Appointment of the
organization’s special representative for South Caucasus is a one
more evidence of this, he said.
The President noted that integration into the European structures,
the European family, is one of the priorities of the Azerbaijan’s
foreign policy. Our general strategy is based on these principles,
and I am very glad that upon the initiative of the European
Commission, our country had been selected to host important
international events, he said. President Ilham Aliyev finally
expressed confidence in success of the conference and in further
development of the Azerbaijan-European Commission cooperation.
Thanking the Azerbaijani leader for the kind words, EC’s Director for
Energy and Transport Francois Lamoureux recalled with deep
satisfaction his meetings with late President Heydar Aliyev. At the
same time, he expressed regret that he had failed to meet with
President Ilham Aliyev during the latter’s visit to Brussels.
The guest described the events held in Baku as extremely important
and contributing to the European Union’s activities aimed at
strengthening of regional cooperation in the Caucasus.
Touching upon such joint programs as TRACECA and INOGATE, Mr. F.
Lamoureux stressed the European Union is directly interested in
secure export of energy carriers from the region.
The guest also stated that the European Union aims to establish a
long-term cooperation guaranteed by stability in the region, and in
this connection, expressed hope for urgent resolution of the
Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Present at the meeting was Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Abid
Sharifov.