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Azerbaijan, remarkable example of fast development: Finland’s ex-president

28 April 2014 18:00 (UTC+04:00)
Azerbaijan, remarkable example of fast development: Finland’s ex-president

By Nigar Orujova

Azerbaijan has been a remarkable example of fast development over the recent years, said the former President of Finland Tarja Halonen at the second Global shared Societies Forum in Baku on April 28.

The number of people living in poverty declined from 50 percent in 2001 to 7 percent in 2012 in Azerbaijan. This is partly due to its natural resources; they have had a good impact. "Meanwhile, the policies implemented in the country played an important role in this improvement too," she said.

Halonen further said energy will continue to play the role of an engine for economic development in Azerbaijan. Meanwhile the government seems to be seeking diversification of the economic sector, including the ITC sector, healthcare and other services.

She also called for deploying all necessary means to reduce the environmental impact of energy production and improve energy efficiency and develop renewable energy.

"As a flexible energy mixture, increasing the share of renewable energy sources needs to be developed even in oil and gas producing countries," she said.

Halonen noted Azerbaijan was among the first countries which introduced gender equality and provided women with the right to be a candidate and vote in public elections. "Azerbaijan introduced this basic right in 1918 during the short period of its first independence," she said.

Halonen said much work is needed now for promoting women's active participation in political and economic areas and this issue was discussed during her visit to Baku.

"By promoting equal participation of women we not only improve the quality of life, but at the same time, the lives of the whole society," she said.

She also said that the world has made progress in achieving the UN's Millennium Development Goals.

"Even though not all the goals have been attained, it is wonderful that we have achieved many of those important goals. For instance halving the share of people living in extreme poverty, and also direct progress has been made in widening literacy and making safe drinking water availability," Halonen said.

In her speech, Finland's ex-president also thanked the organizers as well as the government of Azerbaijan for their outstanding hospitality.

The forum is being attended by over 150 prominent public and political figures from 54 countries, former heads of states and governments, who are the members of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, Club of Rome and Club of Madrid.

The forum's agenda includes such issues as foundations of open societies, conflict settlement methods in difficult situations, multi-governance for ensuring sustainable development process and the need for institutional frameworks, as well as other important issues.

The forum is planned to hold broad discussions on such issues as practical work in the area of domestic economic growth policy, creation of conditions for high-quality education and other social services, strengthening the role of women in society, as well as the natural resources for sustainable development and the role of global boundaries, clean technologies and unity of "green energy".

During the discussions on the conflict settlement in difficult situations, the rapporteurs will share their experience and knowledge in the conflict settlement and social integration area, and will also exchange views on the basic principles of integration and openness, which may be useful in addressing the existing problems.

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