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Andar Shukputov: I will never forget Azerbaijani music, culture and literature - exclusive

25 October 2007 09:59 (UTC +04:00)

Former Kazakh ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Andar Shukputov organized farewell ceremony for media representatives due to expire of his tenure. Andar Shukputov was awarded â€œGloryâ€ order at the order of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for his contributions in the development of relations between the two countries. Ambassador gave an interview to the APA due his tenure expire:

-How do you assess development of mutual relations between the two countries as Kazakh ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan for a long time?

-I started my activity in Azerbaijan as an ambassador in December 2002 and I presented my credentials to the then Azerbaijani president Heydar Aliyev that time. I liked this person at the first sight. Heydar Aliyev always said that we are representatives of brother nations and he always called Nursultan Nazarbayev his brother. Heydar Aliyev died when national holiday was marked in Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev left for Baku for attending funeral despite of the national holiday. I do not want to assess my activity as an ambassador, activities should be appreciated. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev paid 4 visits to Kazakhstan within these years, a lot of documents were signed during the visits. We are working on the 3 huge projects jointly. We investigate Trans-Caspian pipelines, and cooperate on main pipeline Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and railway project Baku-Tbilisi-Kars. Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan demonstrated solidarity in Tehran summit of Caspian Heads of States. All these factors show the development of mutual relations.

-Are you satisfied with trade turnover between the two countries within this period?

-Trade turnover increased twice between the countries when I was ambassador and comprised $300 million. The heads of the two states underlined that they are not satisfied with this figure and expressed necessity of increasing annual amount to $ 1 billion. The acting ambassador and I will try to achieve it together.

-What post will you take later?

-I was appointed chief of Management Board of socio-entrepreneurship corporation â€œBatisâ€ at the order of President Nursultan Nazarbayev. This newly-established organization will be engaged in the coordination of economic projects to be implemented in Kazakhstan. The Central Office of the organization will be established in Aktyubinsk therefore. I hope that I will be able to cooperate with my Azerbaijani counterparts there.

-What is your impression about Azerbaijan? What do you remind most of all?

-I got acquainted with a lot of good people â€“ state figures, cultural figures, writers in your country. My spouse and I had close friendship relations with these people, and I am sure that these relations will be continued in future. I like Azerbaijani music, culture and literature and will never forget it. /APA/