Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry releases final bulletin for 2009

14 January 2010 15:42 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova â€“ APA. Foreign Ministry released the final bulletin for 2009, the ministryâ€™s press service told APA. According to the bulletin, the international processes that happened in 20009 were characterized by high dynamics and intensification of the globalization challenges. The document mentions that the common sate of the world policy is characterized by its unstability and says that geopolitical situation around Azerbaijan underwent serious challenges.
â€œImportant events happened in Azerbaijanâ€™s foreign policy in 2009. Active foreign policy pursued under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev ensured the countryâ€™s national interests, strengthened its international positions and its power as the regional leader. The balanced foreign policy basing on ensuring the national interests served the development of equal, kind and mutually efficient cooperation. President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s state, official and working visits to Hungary, Switzerland, Kuwait, Greece, Iran, Russia, Belgium, Czech Republic, UK, Kazakhstan, Romania, Moldova, Belarus, Bulgaria, Germany and France, the visits of the presidents of Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Syria, Slovenia, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Bulgaria to Azerbaijan were of great importance and contributed much to strengthening political dialogue between Azerbaijan and these countries, promoting economic relations, intensifying humanitarian cooperation, deepening contacts between nations.â€

The bulletin says that switch to the tactical attack activity was achieved in eliminating the collision in the legal application of the principles of self-determination basing on the territorial integrity.
â€œPragmatism covering traditional approach and situational interests offered opportunities for Azerbaijan, which is pursuing the course of cooperation and quick export policy, to increase its regional role in the energy transportations. The country continued making contributions to the international efforts against globalization challenges, threats and risks. The development of the partnership with the European Union and North Atlantic Alliance, basis for the future integration into these structures were strengthened. Azerbaijanâ€™s political influence and importance in the Islamic world increased, the relations with the Turkic-speaking countries became closer. The activity in the dialogue among civilizations, intercultural relations and immaterial heritage increased. Azerbaijanâ€™s new initiatives in this field received broad international support.â€

The document also touches on Azerbaijanâ€™s relations with the Organization of Islamic Conference.
â€œAzerbaijan developed its close cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Conference in the solution of global and regional problems, continued active policy aiming to increase its political role, strengthen its influence and participation in the solution of the international problems. Azerbaijan initiated to strengthen the cooperation among the Islamic countries to contribute to the international struggle against terrorism, transnational organized crimes, illicit drug turnover, human trafficking. In this respect, it should be noted that Azerbaijan hosted the conference of heads of law-enforcement agencies of OIC member states, Baku Declaration was adopted at that time.
In 2009, Baku was declared the capital of the Islamic culture, it was a great event and demonstrated Azerbaijanâ€™s efficient and useful cooperation with OIC and the countryâ€™s influence in the Islamic world.â€

The bulletin says that the relations with the European Union further deepened and the second phase of Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) with NATO was successfully completed. Joint Declaration of the Prague Eastern Partnership Summit gave a new impetus to further development of future relations and cooperation between Azerbaijan and EU. Four thematic platforms currently organised by the European Commission will allow for target-oriented sessions and serve for open and free discussions, on the basis of the main areas of cooperation, namely Democracy, good governance and stability; Economic integration and convergence with EU sectoral policies; Energy security; and Contacts between people. Adoption of â€œSouthern Corridor â€“ New Silk Roadâ€ is of great importance as well.

Nearly 90 bilateral international documents in political, economic, communication, transport, humanitarian, tourism, scientific and cultural fields were signed during President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s state, official and working visits to foreign countries and during the visits of heads of foreign states to Azerbaijan. Approximately 15 meetings of joint intergovernmental commissions and working groups were held last year. In 2009, Azerbaijan opened an embassy in Mexico, consulate general in Yekaterinburg and made decision on opening of embassies in Estonia, Oman, Lebanon, Libya and Serbia and consulate general in Batumi. Brazil, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Morocco and Austria opened their diplomatic representations in Azerbaijan as it shows a great interest of the world community in Azerbaijan.