AZERBAIJAN-TATARSTAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION HOLDS FIRST MEETING
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Aug 1 2006
Prime Ministers Artur Rasizade of Azerbaijan and visiting Rustam
Minnikhanov of Tatarstan (Russia) today in Baku presided over the first
meeting of the Azerbaijan-Tatarstan Intergovernmental Commission on
trade, economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation.
In his opening remarks the Azeri Premier said Azerbaijan attaches
great importance to development of relations with Russian federation
not only at federal level but also at the level of its subjects.
He pointed out that trade between Azerbaijan and Tatarstan which
totaled $35.5 million last year, reached the volume of $25.7 million
over the first six months of the current year that 3.4 times more
than for the corresponding period of 2005.
Speaking of the global energy projects being implemented in Azerbaijan,
Prime Minister Rasizade stressed the country’s intention to develop
its non-oil sector, as well. He said Tatarstan’s experience in this
field would be very useful for Azerbaijan.
Touching upon the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the Premier said Armenia takes a non-constructive stance as for the
issue of peaceful resolution of the problem.
Prime Minister of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov said his republic is
ready to cooperate with Azerbaijan in both trade and economic and
humanitarian field. He also expressed Tatarstan’s interest in creation
of petrochemical and oil refinery joint ventures with Azerbaijan.
The meeting ended with signing a protocol reflecting prospects of
bilateral cooperation in trade, economic, scientific, technical and
cultural cooperation.
After the meeting, the two premiers answered questions from
journalists. They said, in particular, at this first meeting members
of the intergovernmental commission had agreed on opening in Baku of
the service center of the truck production plan KamAZ, implementation
of joint projects in the field of petrochemistry, machine-building,
and oil-field equipment.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
