Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan to continue actively participating in the Economic Cooperation Organization

23 December 2010 20:14 (UTC +04:00)

According to APA, Azerbaijani President said that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to the Economic Cooperation Organization. "We actively participate in the organization
and strengthening the organization is a very positive fact. I am sure that in future the organization will gradually play a more global role. With the increase of the role, of course, will expand the possibilities of the member states", - President said.

Head of State emphasized that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to regional cooperation.

President Aliyev said that in Azerbaijan economy develops in the positive direction. "Over the past 7 years, gross domestic product of Azerbaijan has grown by about 3 times, low costs - 12 times. But poverty has decreased by 4 times. This gives us the opportunity to use our financial resources for common purposes in even greater volume. Thus, we give a stronger impetus to economic cooperation in the region. To ensure the economic independence of each country - particularly in the current period - should find their solution to the issue of energy security. Azerbaijan makes its contribution in this area. Azerbaijanâ€™s rich oil and gas fields play a positive role not only for development but also regional cooperation. Azerbaijanâ€™s rich oil and gas fields allows us to transport our natural resources in neighboring states. Today there are seven oil and gas pipelines that carry crude from the country to world markets. Azerbaijan is implementing its potential through these pipelines, however, it allows to cover a certain part of the needs of neighboring and fraternal and friendly countries for energy. Azerbaijan is a reliable partner, always fulfilled and will fulfill their obligations" â€“ President noted.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has maintained itself as the provider, transit country and reliable partner. â€œI am confident that as a result of successfully solution of energy security issues each country will develop with greater confidence. Further issues related to energy, will become the worldâ€™s more serious topic of discussion. Taking it into account, we can say that Azerbaijan in subsequent years will also ready to play its positive role", - Head of State emphasized.

Along with this, Azerbaijan positively approaches to the processes occurring in the transport sector. â€œExecutable projects that we have created a new transport infrastructure in the region. Azerbaijan is an active participant in the corridor North-South and East-West. The geographical position of our country gives us an opportunity to increase their positive role in any direction. As a result of putting into operation under construction today in the region of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will be possible to restore a new "Iron Silk Road"â€, - President said.

The President noted that this road will connect not only Azerbaijan and Turkey, but also Europe and Asia. â€œThus, this road will be very important in terms of economic benefits. We take a very active part in this project. We hope that in the near future the construction of this road will be completed, and member countries of the Economic Organization Cooperation take advantage of these opportunitiesâ€, - President Aliyev emphasized.