Opening of Kyrgyz embassy discussed in Baku

Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Omurbek Babanov discussed bilateral relations with Azerbaijan, including the opening of the Kyrgyz Embassy in Azerbaijan during his visit to Baku, the Kyrgyz government said.

During the trip, Omurbek Babanov met with Azerbaijani Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.

They discussed the issues of grant aid from the Azerbaijani side, developing bilateral relations, including intensifying bilateral trade, preferential delivery of lubricants to the Kyrgyz Republic, mutual drawing investments, rapid ratifying the agreements on avoidance of double taxation between the two countries.

Omurbek Babanov proposed to hold the first meeting of the intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani commission on trade-economic, scientific, cultural and humanitarian cooperation to enhance trade and economic cooperation.

"Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with Azerbaijan on the basis of mutual trust, respect each other's interests and mutually beneficial cooperation", he said.

Special attention was paid to establishing the Kyrgyz-Azerbaijani Investment Fund in Kyrgyzstan. It will aim to draw investments in priority sectors of the economy.

The Azerbaijani side, having experience in establishing these funds, expressed an intention to create an expert group. It will study the issue of creating an investment fund in Kyrgyzstan and send its recommendations to Kyrgyzstan in February 2011.

"We are closely observing the socio-political situation in Kyrgyzstan and sincerely worry about you. We are ready to help and share our experience. The fact that you came on the New Year's Eve stipulates that the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic began to actively work," Azerbaijani Prime Minister said.

During his visit Omurbek Babanov also met with the head of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Rovnag Abdullayev. They discussed lubricant supplies to Kyrgyzstan. He also met with Azerbaijani First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov.

Summing up his working visit, the first Deputy Prime Minister noted that this working visit is very important for both countries because bilateral relations require activation and dynamic growth.

The presidents of two countries agreed during the last meeting in Istanbul about holding the meetings of governmental delegations.

This visit became the first step in implementing this agreement. Kyrgyz foreign trade turnover with Azerbaijan in January-October 2010 totaled $51.5 million or 10.7 times more than the corresponding period last year. The exports to Azerbaijan amounted to $1,2 million and remained at the level of the corresponding period of last year, import - $50,4 million, increasing by 13.6 times.


/Trend/