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Diplomat &International Canada publishes article on Azerbaijan

03 October 2007 16:42 (UTC +04:00)

The article says that Azerbaijan became regional leader during Heydar Aliyevâ€™s tenure despite complicated geopolitical situation 10 years ago. The article says that GDP growth rate for the past five years was 12% annually (World Bankâ€™s calculations). The author underlines that Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and Baku-Tbili-Arzurum main export oil and gas pipelines launched in 2006, while construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Gars railway has commenced and Baku has emerged one of the most important sites for investment: â€œSuch regional projects bring Azerbaijan and European Union together. A memorandum of Understanding on energy cooperation was signed between Azerbaijan and EU in 2006â€.
The article also mentions Azerbaijanâ€™s intention on the integration in Euro-Atlantic structures, saying that countryâ€™s energy reserves attract capitalists from Europe, Asia and US. The article focused on the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Canada stressing the fact that Canada trade mission was in Baku in June. The establishment of the fund for Azerbaijani students studying abroad and State Oil Fund for transparent management of oil incomes were kept in focus in the article.
â€œIf Azerbaijanâ€™s occupied territories are liberated it will benefit from all transregional projectâ€ the article says touching upon Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Reforms and industrial projects implemented in Azerbaijan could be useful for the whole region ad international communityâ€™s including Canadaâ€™s support is very important in this context: â€œTight relations will serve to expand global energy sources and strengthen stability in one of the most strategic regions of the world./ APA/