President Ilham Aliyev: Gas markets are important for Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani gas is important for these markets - PHOTOS - UPDATE

The Azerbaijan-Latvia  relations in economic sector are still not at the level of the political relations, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at a joint press conference with Latvian President Valdis Zatlers in Riga on Monday, the official website of the Latvian leader reported.

"But, I am confident that thanks to the events, taken by us, will also have brilliant results in this sphere, too," Aliyev added.

"Among the areas of cooperation I would like to note the information and communication technologies issue. Azerbaijan gives an importance to this area and the country is confident that Latvia has done a lot in this sphere," President Aliyev added.

"In the field of agriculture we have also broad prospective for interaction, in the field of energy, in the field of the mutual investments - I think that we have to be more attentive to this. Today Azerbaijani companies bring already their capital to the foreign markets, and we are making large investments in foreign markets," Aliyev said.

President Zatlers said Latvia exports food products which are popular in a great many countries, including Azerbaijan.

"We also have a great deal of interest and many opportunities to export Latvian IT solutions to private companies and government institutions in Azerbaijan. We also talked about ways in which we can work together in the field of education, because education, too, is an export product to a certain degree. We talked about the mutual interests of Azerbaijan and Latvia. We also talked about transport and the energy sector," President Zatlers said.

President Aliyev praised the mutual investment prospects of both countries as a very promising sector.

"We welcome Latvian investments in the economy. I am confident that these investments will help to diversify Azerbaijani economy. Today in Azerbaijan we pay big attention to all sectors of Azerbaijani economy. We have to strive to reduce to the minimum level our dependence on oil and gas sector, and we are already successful in that. In order to diversify the economy, the attraction of investments is very important for us," President Aliyev said.

In 2010, $15.5 billion have been invested in Azerbaijan, among these figures 9.3 billion are national investments, the rest is the foreign investments, Aliyev added.

"We have very favourable investment climate. Investments of foreign companies are protected. Azerbaijani companies in their turn have started already to make their investments in foreign markets. These investments have passed already several billions of dollars," Aliyev said. "Of course, to make an investment in a friendly country like Latvia can be very interesting for us."

The Latvian President also believes the foundation for economic co-operation in the future will unquestionably be mutual investments

"We will be able to meet decades from now and see the positive result. Our trade volumes will be much, much broader, and our national economies will be much more closely linked while supplementing one another at the same time," Zatlers added.

There must be an unambiguous appreciation of the fact that Latvia is a member state in the European Union, he said. Because of this, 70% of "our trade volume relates to the European Union".

"By promoting bilateral economic relations with Azerbaijan, we are also promoting Azerbaijan's economic relations with the European Union and vice-versa. We would like to see greater economic integration in specific in the Caucasus region. By shaping bilateral relations with each of those countries, we will promote economic development in the whole region," Zatlers said.

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Gas markets are important for Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani gas is important for these markets, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev  said at a joint press conference with Latvian President Valdis Zatlers in Riga on Monday, the official website of the Latvian leader reported.

"Our production profile of gas can be increased at least twice. Therefore, of course, we need markets for that. Those markets which need our gas, those markets which are competitive, which are open, which are regulated by legislation and which are long-term. Therefore, I think the interests of European consumers - Azerbaijan coin side. And now it is time to work how we can work together long term in order to provide interests of consumers, producers and of course transitors," President Aliyev said.

Azerbaijan managed so far to implement all the necessary  infrastructure projects to transport "our gas and oil to the international markets".

"At the moment we have free oil for gas pipelines which transport Azerbaijani oil and gas to different directions. Today we supply all our neighbours with natural gas. We have contracts with Turkey, Georgia, Russia, with Iran. And we want to expand our production, capabilities and, of course, export facilities," he said.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan needs to work in both directions.

"First, to increase gas supplies to the markets which already we have. I mentioned those countries. And, second, is to find new markets. And here we see a very serious approach from European countries  and the EU, and the reflection of the serious approach was a joint declaration  which was signed as I mentioned before between President Barroso and myself several days ago in Baku. We have a huge gas reserves - trillion m3. We have already modern and very efficient diversified infrastructure - gas pipelines. And we have a big market in Europe which needs more gas. For us it is not a matter to avoid someone or to bypass someone. We never did anything in our energy strategy against someone.  For us the most important is to be able to realise our gas potential to full extent," Aliyev said.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso signed the Joint Declaration on the Southern Gas Corridor in Baku.

The Southern Corridor is a priority EU energy project diversifying energy supply routes and sources and increasing EU energy security. The Southern Corridor includes the Nabucco gas pipeline, Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), White Stream, and ITGI (Turkey-Greece-Italy pipeline).

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10:50

Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Valdis Zatlers of Latvia given a joint press conference. President Zatlers expressed confidence the economic and cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Latvia would further strengthen.

“We have very positive bilateral relations, and although the last few years marked economic downturn for the world countries, the economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Latvia saw a 10%-growth.”

The Latvian leader said business forums were an important step towards expanding the bilateral economic cooperation. President Zatlers said a joint Azerbaijan-Latvia business council would be established, noting the bilateral relations were important for expanding the ties with the European Union.

President Aliyev stressed the importance of the documents signed between the two countries, in particular a joint Declaration he inked with his Latvian counterpart. The Azerbaijani leader said there were great prospects for developing the two countries` economic and cultural cooperation.

President Aliyev said Azerbaijan and Latvia were friendly countries. He touched upon a joint business forum to take place in Riga, saying it would be of great importance.

“Over 50 Azerbaijani businessmen will attend the forum,” President Aliyev added.
On energy cooperation, the Azerbaijani leader noted his country enjoyed high-level collaboration with the European Union.

“We are ready to contribute to the European Union`s energy security.”

The Azerbaijani leader also highlighted the talks to solve the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. President Aliyev emphasized the conflict “must be settled only on the basis of international legal norms and Azerbaijan`s territorial integrity”.

The President also touched upon the European Union`s Eastern Partnership Program, saying his country had big hopes with respect to its implementation.

The presidents' remarks were followed by a question-and-answer session with journalists.

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10:32

An official reception in honor of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva was given by Latvia`s President Valdis Zatlers and his spouse Lilita Zatlere. The presidents made speeches at the reception.

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An Azerbaijan-Latvia business forum was held in Riga on Monday. Presidents Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Valdis Zatlers of Latvia attended the business forum. The forum participants warmly welcomed the presidents of Azerbaijan and Latvia.

The business forum brought together 200 businessmen from the two countries.

The Azerbaijani and Latvian presidents made speeches at the event. Joint documents were signed at the event between Azerbaijan and Latvia on cooperation on business and investments.

The event participants were given detailed information about the economic development of Azerbaijan and Latvia, the two countries` investment opportunities and cooperation potential. Also various projects were presented in the forum.

The Azerbaijani and Latvian presidents became familiar with an exhibition organized as part of the event.

They also viewed examples of different types of products produced in both countries. 

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met Latvia`s Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis. They discussed the Azerbaijan-Latvia economic cooperation and prospects for developing the bilateral relations in a variety of fields.

The Azerbaijani President and the Latvian Premier stressed the impooratnce of exploring opportunities for boosting the cooperation in power engineering and mutual investment making, and increasing the bilateral trade.

President Aliyev and Premier Dombrovskis stressed the role of a joint intergovernmental commission in expanding the economic cooperation.

They also emphasized the existence of great opportunities for developing the Azerbaijan-Latvia economic relations.

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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has met Speaker of Latvia`s Saeima Solvita Aboltina. The Latvian Speaker told the Azerbaijani leader of the Saeima`s organizational structure and activity.

During their meeting, Mrs. Aboltina said her country placed a particular importance on developing the interparliamentary relations with Azerbaijan. She said there was a friendship group with Azerbaijan at the Latvian Saeima.

The Latvian Speaker expressed confidence the Azerbaijan-Latvia interparliamentary cooperation would strengthen.

President Aliyev praised the Azerbaijan-Latvia relations, saying they were developing in a variety of fields. The Azerbaijani leader said the interparliamentary cooperation greatly contributed to the two countries` all-round relations.

President Aliyev expressed hope the Azerbaijan-Latvia relations, including the interparliamentary cooperation would expand.

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President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva, Latvia`s President Valdis Zatlers and his spouse Lilita Zatlere had a joint dinner in Jurmala on Monday.

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January 17
18:40

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev together with his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva and accompanied by the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers and his spouse Lilita Zatlere on January 17, visited the Freedom Monument, a memorial located in the center of Riga on Brivibas bulvaris.

A guard of honor paraded down the square. President Ilham Aliyev and the First Lady of Azerbaijan laid flowers to the monument to honor soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence. A military orchestra performed national anthems of Azerbaijan and Latvia. President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers briefed the Azerbaijani President on the important symbol of freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia. He said this monument was unveiled on November 18, 1935, and Latvia was proclaimed an independent state on November 18, 1918.

Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940 and the Freedom Monument was considered for demolition, but no such move was carried out. Since the re-establishment of independence the Freedom Monument has become a focal point for a variety of events. The monument remained a symbol of national independence to the general public. Latvian people gathered at the monument to commemorate the victims of the mass repressions, and to lay flowers. This rally renewed the national independence movement, which culminated three years later in the re-establishment of Latvian sovereignty.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev had a conversation with an old resident of Riga and was photographed. President of Azerbaijan was also briefed on the Monument restoration.

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18:09

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers have held one-on-one meeting in Riga today, AzerTAc state news agency reported. At the meeting the sides expressed satisfaction with the successful development of relations in various spheres and stressed good prospects for expanding cooperation.

During the conversation, the importance of developing relations between Azerbaijan and Latvia within the European Union was noted. The sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and international issues.

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Azerbaijani and Latvian presidents Ilham Aliyev and Valdis Zatlers highly appreciated the result of negotiations on relations between two countries in the political, economic, social and cultural fields.

A joint declaration was signed at the meeting of the two presidents conducted in an atmosphere of sincere friendship, the official website of the Latvian President reported.

The Parties agreed to develop actively the political dialogue on different levels in all spectrums of bilateral relations, as well as international and regional issues of mutual interest, the text of the declaration said.

The Parties, expressing their determination in promotion and comprehensive development of the relations in economic, trade, military and military technical, communication, transport and logistics, civil aviation, tourism, health, science, education, culture, youth, protection of environment and humanitarian fields between the two countries, note the significance of expanding the existing legal base, the document said.

The Parties emphasize the importance of the initiatives encouraging the peaceful resolution of all protracted conflicts.

The Parties emphasise the importance of the soonest resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict on the basis of the universally recognised principles and norms of the international law, especially the principles of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders in accordance with the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and the three principles of the OSCE Lisbon Summit.

The Parties, referring to the continuing efforts within the OSCE towards peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as to the activity of the Minsk Group, state the importance of taking more efficient and decisive steps in this regard, the declaration said.

Azerbaijani Minister of Emergency Situations Kamaladdin Heydarov and Latvian Interior Minister Linda Murniece signed the "Agreement on cooperation in preventing and liquidating emergency situations".

"The agreement on mutual administrative assistance and exchange of information on tax compliance" was signed by Minister of Taxes Fazil Mammadov and director general of the Latvian State Revenue Service Nelija Jezdakova, AzerTac state news agency reported.

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14:25

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was officially welcomed here Monday at residence of the President of Latvia - Riga Castle. A guard of honor was lined up for the Azerbaijani leader in front of the castle decorated with the national flags of the two countries.

President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers and his spouse Lilita Zatlers welcomed President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva.

The presidents inspected a ceremonial guard of honor as an orchestra played the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Latvia. Latvian state and government officials were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev, while members of the Azerbaijani delegation to President Valdis Zatlers. The Presidents and their spouses posed for photographs.

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva signed an honorary guest book.

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10:27

President Ilham Aliyev arrived on an official visit to Latvia on January 16. At the Riga international airport decorated with national flags of both counties, a ceremonial guard of honor was lined up in honor of the Head of State.

President Ilham Aliyev and his spouse Mehriban Aliyeva were welcomed by Latvia`s high-ranking state and government officials.


/AzerTAc, Trend/

Click photos to enlarge:

President Ilham Aliyev leaves for official visit to Latvia