Download March 14 – April 1, 2016 - Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to

March 14 – April 1, 2016
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN TO
THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
NEWS DIGEST
President Ilham Aliyev met with US Secretary of State
31.03.2016
President Ilham Aliyev has met with the United States
Secretary of State John Kerry.
Prior to the meeting they made remarks for the press.
Secretary of State John Kerry said:
Good afternoon, everybody. I’m really pleased to
welcome somebody I’ve had a chance to meet with a
number of times elsewhere, but I’m happy to welcome the President of Azerbaijan, President
Aliyev. We have a lot of mutual interests that we are currently working on. We’re very grateful to
Azerbaijan’s contributions to peacekeeping, their efforts in Afghanistan. Obviously, Azerbaijan is
located in a complex region right now and I think President Aliyev has been very studious and
thoughtful about how to respond to some of those needs, particularly with his leadership on the
Southern Gas Corridor. This is a very important step with respect to Europe’s long-term strategic
interests, and frankly, to try to diversify the sourcing of energy, which is important.
We obviously share other interests in counterterrorism. We want to see an ultimate resolution of
the frozen conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh that needs to be a negotiated settlement and something
that has to be worked on over time.
But right now, I want to thank the President for his presence here for the Nuclear Security
Summit and for the many courtesies that he has shown recently as he moves to adjust the
economic opportunity for Azerbaijan as well as the security relationship with the region. And
delighted to have you here. Thank you.
President Ilham Aliyev said:
Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, first of all, I’d like to express my gratitude to President
Obama for inviting me to attend the nuclear summit. We consider it as a sign of friendship and
partnership. We highly value our bilateral relations. U.S.-Azerbaijan relations have already a long
history of 25 years, and these relations always were very close, cordial, and now they are
relations of strategic importance.
1|Page
March 14 – April 1, 2016
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF
AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALT OF
AUSTRALIA
We have very active political dialogue. As Mr. Secretary already said, we met many times
before but first time here in Washington. We have economic cooperation, which is
developing. U.S. companies invested more than $10 billion in our economy, which is also a
good sign of economic cooperation and good sign of economic development of our country.
We jointly implemented such important projects as construction of oil pipelines connecting
Caspian and Mediterranean Seas for the first time with the strong support of the United
States.
And now, as Mr. Secretary mentioned, we are working jointly on Southern Gas Corridor,
and the project of energy security, energy diversification, and the long-term benefit to all the
participants – producers, transit countries, consumers. And we are very grateful to the
Government of the United States for its strong support in implementation of this project.
Frankly speaking, without that support, it may have taken much more time and effort to
implement the project. We are on track, we’ll be on time, and in two, three years, the
Southern Gas Corridor will be in operation.
We are grateful to the U.S. Government for their efforts in finding ways to resolve longlasting conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We think that the conflict must be resolved
based on United Nations Security Council resolution, which demand immediate and
unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from our territories. The conflict between
Armenia and Azerbaijan, all the conflicts in post-Soviet area and in the world, must be
resolved based on territorial integrity of the countries.
We’re also close partners on issues related to security in the region. Azerbaijan provides its
support, logistical support, in operations in Afghanistan, overflights, land transportation. Also
we have almost 100 servicemen serving shoulder to shoulder with NATO servicemen in
Afghanistan.
So the agenda of our relations is very broad. Today, of course, we’ll cover these issues as
well as regional problems, and I’m sure the meeting will play an important role in further
development of our friendly ties. Thank you.
President Ilham Aliyev met with US Secretary of Commerce
Penny Pritzker
31.03.2016
President Ilham Aliyev has met with the United States Secretary of Commerce Penny
Pritzker.
2|Page
March 14 – April 1, 2016
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF
AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
They discussed ongoing economic processes in Azerbaijan, measures taken in the country
to prevent and eliminate unemployment, the role of customs and tax reforms in developing
the national economy, as well as prospects for cooperation in the field of agriculture, and
ways of expanding trade relations. The importance of the Southern Gas Corridor project
was hailed at the meeting.
They also discussed the expansion of Azerbaijan-US energy cooperation, and the activity of
American companies in Azerbaijan.
President Ilham Aliyev met with heads of American Jewish
organizations
31.03.2016
President Ilham Aliyev has met with heads of
the American Israel Public Affairs Committee,
National Coalition Supporting Soviet Jewry and
the
Conference
of
Presidents
of
Major
American Jewish Organizations.
The sides noted that such meetings had
already
become
traditional,
opened
good
opportunities for conducting a mutual exchange of views and contributed to the
strengthening of cooperation.
Heads of the American Jewish organizations hailed Azerbaijan`s growing successes,
adding that they witness this during their visits to the country.
They said they were deeply impressed by the beauty of Baku. They said such meetings
contributed to the development of both Azerbaijan-US and Azerbaijan-Israel cooperation.
They hailed Azerbaijan-US relations, noting that Jewish organizations contribute to these
ties.
The sides expressed mutual interest in developing cooperation.
3
|Page
March 14 – April 1, 2016
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF
AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
At the meeting, the sides expressed their satisfaction with the comprehensive development
of the relations between Azerbaijan and Italy. They particularly noted that, Italy remains one
of the most important trade partners of Azerbaijan within the European Union.
The sides highlighted the importance of TAP and TANAP projects in ensuring the energy
security of Europe as an alternative source of energy and its role in further advancing the
cooperation among the regional countries.
Franco Frattini particularly underlined the significant role of Azerbaijan in the region, as well
as its successful and balanced foreign policy.
Minister Elmar Mammadyarov briefed about the development perspectives of EUAzerbaijan relations, the settlement process of Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and threats
posed to the regional peace and security by unresolved status of conflict. He added that in
order to achieve progress in the settlement of the conflict, first and foremost, the armed
forces of Armenia must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan in
accordance with the relevant resolutions of UN Security Council.
At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the regional and global issues of mutual
interest.
President Ilham Aliyev met with US Vice President
31.03.2016
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Vice President of the
United States Joe Biden.
Joe Biden said they attached great importance to meetings with President Ilham Aliyev,
adding that these meetings contribute to expanding Azerbaijan-US cooperation and
elevating relations to a new level. He said the USA resolutely supported Azerbaijan`s
territorial integrity and sovereignty, adding that this was of great importance for the United
States.
The U.S. Vice President said there were good opportunities for expanding the bilateral ties
in all areas, particularly economy. He said the two countries enjoyed good cooperation with
respect to security and peacekeeping operations. Joe Biden hailed Azerbaijan`s active
participation in the international anti-terror coalition in Afghanistan. He underscored the
importance of the steps taken to define opportunities for defense cooperation.
4|Page
March 14 – April 1, 2016
THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF
AZERBAIJAN TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
He said the US fully supported Azerbaijan`s efforts to implement the Southern Gas Corridor
project, noting that the country would take necessary measures in this regard.
President Ilham Aliyev said reforms were being
conducted in all areas in Azerbaijan, adding that
the freedom of thought, freedom of press, freedom
of assembly, freedom of Internet were provided in
the
country.
The
head
of
state
highlighted
Azerbaijan`s position on the Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked the US for its firm position on the settlement of the dispute,
and underlined the significance of solving the problem. The head of state noted the
importance of President Barack Obama`s stance - as president of the co-chair country - that
the status quo was unacceptable.
President Ilham Aliyev said the United States played a vital role in finding a peaceful and
negotiated solution to the conflict. The head of state expressed Azerbaijan`s interest in
strengthening cooperation with the US in political, economic and energy fields.
The sides also expressed mutual interest in maintaining strong and long-term cooperation
between the two countries.
Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the terror acts
perpetrated in Brussels
23.03.2016
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in strongest terms condemns
the heinous terror acts perpetrated in Brussels that caused many deaths and injuries.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their
lives and wish for a speedy recovery to the wounded.
The Republic of Azerbaijan, as a country suffering from terrorism, has always made its
contributions to counter-terrorism efforts of the international community and jointly with the
partners will continue to support the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism.
5| P a g e