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Meeting of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev with Mr. Romano Prodi, President of
the European Commission
May 18, 2004
On 18 May, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Mr. Romano Prodi,
President of the European Commission.
Mr. Romano Prodi warmly greeted the President of Azerbaijan and expressed
pleasure meeting him for the first time. They had their photos taken in memory in
front of the flags of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the European Commission.
In the course of the talk, the parties exchanged views on the “European neigh-
borhood policy” program and involvement of Azerbaijan to it. Mr. Romano Prodi
said from today on, extensive cooperation between Azerbaijan Republic and the
European Commission has just started and we support admission of Azerbaijan to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the ongoing economic reforms in the
Republic. Touching the Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he ex-
pressed concern of the European Commission and underlined that the EC wishes
the OSCE Minsk Group’s efforts to yield their results for fair resolution of the
problem.
Noting that integration to Europe is priority in the foreign policy of Azerbaijan
Republic, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev spoke of the expedient works in
this direction. The Head of State noted that the European Union has appointed its
representative in the South Caucasus. The said representative has recommended
involvement of Azerbaijan to the “European neighborhood policy” program and we
highly appraise it. President Ilham Aliyev updated Mr. Prodi on the socio-economic
reforms and their successful results in the country. Speaking of the Nagorno-Kara-
bakh conflict, Head of Azerbaijan Republic noted that Azerbaijan is going to restore
its territorial integrity. The Minsk Group should be more active in settlement of
the problem, President Aliyev emphasized. Azerbaijan wishes that the European
Union, the Council of Europe to assist Azerbaijan in this direction. One should not
bear the aggression of Armenia against Azerbaijan, being a part of Europe, and join-
ing the “European neighborhood policy” program, he stressed.
Afterwards, there was a briefing for media representatives. Initially, Mr. Romano
Prodi and the President Ilham Aliyev made a speech before the media representa-
tives.
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BAKU-BRUSSELS (Azerbaijan-European Union relations)
Meeting of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev with the Deputy Chairman of
the European Commission Mrs. Loyolo De Palasio
May 18, 2004
On May 18, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with the deputy chairman,
member of European commission for energy, transport and relations with European
parliament Mrs. Loyolo De Palasio.
Having noted that she was glad to meet with President Ilham Aliyev Mrs. Loyola
De Palasio emphasized important work carried out in the last few years in Azerbai-
jan. She said that all that had high estimation in European Commission and the ac-
tivity of the head of our state in the field of development of democracy and defense
of the human rights would bring benefit.
Realization of TRASECA program, contracts signed in connection with devel-
opment of Caspian energy resources, construction of the main export pipeline Ba-
ku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan was also discussed. Transportation of gas to Europe was in the
agenda, which would be produced at “Shahdeniz” field. Mrs. Loyola De Palasio
said: we pay great importance to the project and European Commission will use all
efforts for the transportation of Azerbaijani gas through Turkey and Greece to Eu-
rope. She also informed that on May 12 European Commission prepared and sent
strategic document to the European Union “European neighborhood Policy”. In late
June this document will be discussed in the European Parliament.
President Ilham Aliyev spoke about positive results of the economic reforms
conducted in our country, construction of the main export pipeline, and noticed that
Azerbaijan paid much attention to TRACECA project. Head of our state mentioned
that Azerbaijan was deeply interested in the soonest supply of the gas produced
from “Shahdeniz” field to European gas markets. Azerbaijani President said: our
country considers integration into European structures as one of the most important
directions of its policy.
After the meeting with deputy chairman of the European Commission Azerbai-
jani President Ilham Aliyev was present in the ceremony of solemn opening of the
monument to “Dede Gorgud” in front of the headquarters of the World Customs
Organization (WCO).
After opening of the monument, the ceremony of signing of the protocol of in-
tentions between WCO and State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbai-
jan took place in the building of the World Customs Organization.
Azerbaijani President attended the ceremony.
WCO Secretary General Michele Dane and chairman of the State Customs Com-
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mittee of Azerbaijan Kamaladdin Heydarov signed the document.
On May 18, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the foreign minister
of Kuwait sheikh Muhammad as-Sabah in the special residence at “Konrad” hotel.
At the same day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with the Prime Minis-
ter of the Kingdom of Belgium Gi Verkhofstadt.
Upon completion of the meeting President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister
Gi Verkhofstadt signed three documents between the Republic of Azerbaijan and
the Kingdom of Belgium - Convention of cancellation of the double taxation and
prevention from the tax deviation, Agreement on mutual protection and encourage-
ment of investments and bilateral Agreement for rendering mutual administrative
assistance on customs.
Then, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with the Secretary-General of the
Council of the EU, the EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security
Policy Javier Solana in the head office of the European Union.
After the meeting briefing for the media representatives was arranged.
On May 18, ceremony of signing “Protocol of agreement on the partnership
and cooperation between European Union and Azerbaijan providing admission of
10 new countries into the European Union” took place in the headquarters of the
European Union. President Ilham Aliyev was present in the ceremony. Document
was signed by permanent representative of Finland under EU Mrs. Ann Anderson,
acting on behalf of the EU, and deputy chairman of the European Commission for
Foreign Relations Michael Lee. Azerbaijani party was represented by the head of
the Azerbaijani delegation to the EU, ambassador Arif Mammadov.
On May 18, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev gave interview to the “Euro-
news” TV channel in the special residence in “Konrad” hotel.
At the end of the second day of the visit to Brussels President Ilham Aliyev re-
ceived Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey, Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.
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