Heydar aliyev heritage research center

317

wap.aliyevheritage.org

BAKU-BRUSSELS (Azerbaijan-European Union relations)

borhood Policy. “The European Union with its 500 million population pays great 

importance on expansion of cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan that plays 

a significant role in the region”, he stressed. He expressed his confidence that these 

relations would develop further.

Head of the PA foreign relations department Novruz Mammadov and the repre-

sentative of Azerbaijan in European Union Arif Mammadov took part in the recep-

tion.

---

318

www.aliyevheritage.org

BAKU-BRUSSELS (Azerbaijan-European Union relations)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev 

receives the delegation led by the Director for Energy and 

Transport of the European Commission Francois Lamoureux 

November 13, 2004

On November 13, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received 

the delegation led by the Director for Energy and Transport of the European Com-

mission Francois Lamoureux.

Warmly greeting the guests, President Ilham Aliyev described the fact of con-

ducting two EC - initiated conferences of Energy Ministers of 11 countries and 

Transport Ministers of 14 countries as extremely important. He stressed that issues 

of the conference agenda are of special significance for both Azerbaijan and the 

whole region.

Noting that energy and transport are very important factors of economic devel-

opment of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev said over the past years, the coun-

try has gained considerable progress in these fields. The Head of Sate stated that 

realization of the large-scale energy projects in Azerbaijan is a good example of 

productive regional cooperation and indication of efficient joint efforts.

President Ilham Aliyev noted that Azerbaijan is proud of its achievements in this 

sphere. Holding of such events in our country creates an opportunity to discuss very 

important economic issues, and contributes to further strengthening of energy and 

transport infrastructure in Azerbaijan, he said.

The President pointed out the progress Azerbaijan has achieved over the last 

years in transport, including aviation, shipping and railway, noting the modern pas-

senger aircrafts and oil tankers the country has purchased as well as reconstruction 

of highway along the Great Silk Way etc. form a good basis for creation of a world-

class transport infrastructure in Azerbaijan.

The Head of Sate also mentioned the rising importance of Azerbaijan as a trans-

port corridor between East and West. Speaking with satisfaction about rapid de-

velopment of the country’s relations with the European Union, he noted that it has 

become an active participant of the organizations’ new neighborhood policy. Presi-

dent Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that this fact would promote realization of 

concrete projects and programs in the framework of cooperation between Azerbai-

jan and the European Union.

The Azerbaijani leader described the EU’s increasing attention to Azerbaijan, 

particularly, to settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno-Kara-

bakh and liberation of the country’s lands from occupation as a very positive fact. 

Appointment of the organization’s special representative for the South Caucasus is 

---

319

wap.aliyevheritage.org

BAKU-BRUSSELS (Azerbaijan-European Union relations)

a one more evidence of this, he said.

The President noted that integration into the European structures, the European 

family, is one of the priorities of the Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. Our general strat-

egy is based on these principles, and I am very glad that upon the initiative of the 

European Commission, our country had been selected to host important interna-

tional events, he said. President Ilham Aliyev finally expressed his confidence in 

success of the conference and in further development of the Azerbaijan-European 

Commission cooperation.

Thanking the Azerbaijani leader for the kind words, EC’s Director for Energy 

and Transport  Francois  Lamoureux  recalled  with  deep  satisfaction  his  meetings 

with late President Heydar Aliyev. At the same time, he expressed his regret that he 

had failed to meet with President Ilham Aliyev during the latter’s visit to Brussels.

The guest described the events held in Baku as extremely important and contrib-

uting to the European Union’s activities aimed at strengthening regional coopera-

tion in the Caucasus.

Touching upon such joint programs as TRACECA and INOGATE, Mr. F. Lamou-

reux stressed the European Union is directly interested in secure export of energy 

carriers from the region.

The  guest  also  stated  that  the  European  Union  aims  to  establish  a  long-term 

cooperation guaranteed by stability in the region, and in this connection, expressed 

hope for urgent resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Present at the meeting was Vice Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Abid Sharifov.

---

320

www.aliyevheritage.org

BAKU-BRUSSELS (Azerbaijan-European Union relations)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev

 receives delegation led by EU Special Representative

 for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie 

February 9, 2005 

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received the EU del-

egation led by EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie at 

the Presidential Palace, February 9.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his satisfaction with the intensive develop-

ment of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union and with active 

participation of the Republic in the EU neighborhood policy. Touching upon the 

Armenia-Azerbaijan,  Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict,  President  Ilham  Aliyev  said 

Azerbaijan’s position related to the problem bases on the norms and principles of 

the international law - that is, on territorial integrity and inviolability of borders.

He stated that the conflicts, existing in the former Soviet space and followed by 

aggressive separatism, damage peace and stability in the region. From this stand-

point, the objective position condemning the Armenian separatism and the aggres-

sion of Azerbaijan against Azerbaijan in the documents of the Council of Europe 

and other international organizations is of great significance. Head of the Azerbaijan 

State stressed confidence for further cooperation of Azerbaijan-European Union.

Mr. Talvitie gave high assessment to expansion of the relations between the Eu-

ropean Union and Azerbaijan, stating these relations will develop and strengthen in 

the years to come.

At the meeting, various aspects of EU-Azerbaijan cooperation, regional issues 

and other issues of mutual interest were also discussed.

---