Azernews.Az

By Gunay Camal

Azerbaijan and Ukraine highlighted good prospects for developing cooperation in fuel and energy sector, along with boosting regional transportation.

Overall, prospects for bilateral political, economic, humanitarian, energy and transport relations were the key topics mulled during the one-on-one meeting of President Ilham Aliyev and visiting Ukrainian President Petr Poroshenko in Baku on July 4.

The presidents noted that historically the Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations, the friendly ties between the two nations were at a high level, further exchanging views on the issues of mutual interest of the two countries.

The future directions for developing the mutually beneficial relations were set at the fifth meeting of the Council of Azerbaijani and Ukrainian presidents held on the same day, where a series of documents have been signed for enhancig bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Particularly, the Protocol of the 5th meeting of the Council of Azerbaijani and Ukrainian presidents was inked by President Aliyev and President Poroshenko.

The Protocol on cooperation in fighting customs violations in air transportation of goods between Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee and State Fiscal Service of Ukraine was signed by head of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev and head of the State Fiscal Service Roman Nasirov.

The Program of cooperation in culture and art for 2016-2020 between Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism was inked by Azerbaijan’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Abulfas Garayev and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

President Aliyev, addressing the press conference, noted that wide discussions were held during the meeting on various spheres of bilateral relations.

He also pointed to the significance of Poroshenko’s visit for development of relations, and said the fifth meeting of the Council of Azerbaijani and Ukrainian presidents creates a good opportunity for holding discussions and making decisions.

The Azerbaijani president said there is a good potential to settle the discussed issues taking into account the mutual interests.

“The visit of President Poroshenko to Azerbaijan is very important at this phase of our bilateral relations. I have no doubt that we will have marvelous results in the future that will make our nations closer to each other,” Aliyev said.

The Azerbaijani leader noted that along with development of trade and economic cooperation, Ukraine and Azerbaijan successfully cooperate in such international organizations like the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe, and will further deepen the cooperation within this framework.

The president went on to say that implementation of joint investment projects is planned and related instructions were given to examine investment opportunities in both countries. “Because there is a lot of interest in it,” he said.

He noted that Azerbaijan had a great export potential and the Ukrainian market is very attractive for the country.

The president further informed that the parties had discussed the implementation of the Odessa-Brody project in details. “We have instructed to restore this project, because Azerbaijan is supplying very large volumes of oil to the European market and is becoming a transit country for the states located on the east coast of the Caspian Sea. Thus, the restoration of this project creates good opportunities,” President Aliyev emphasized. “Triangle between the Caspian, Black and Baltic Sea has a potential for cooperation," he said.

The president noted that the railway line Baku-Tbilisi-Kars, which is a restoration of the ancient Silk Road, would soon be put into operation. “And these are new opportunities for the Ukrainian companies,” he said.

Also, Azerbaijan is interested in creating the North-South transport corridor. “And Ukraine can use these opportunities as well,” Aliyev noted.

President Poroshenko, in turn, expressed gratitude for the hospitality towards the Ukrainian delegation and noted that they were deeply impressed by what they saw in Azerbaijan’s capital.

Poroshenko said they saw not only the beauty of Baku, but also the good mood of people in the capital.

Poroshenko, addressing the press conference, praised the results of the fifth session of the Council of Presidents emphasizing their importance in times of new challenges for global security, hybrid threats in the region, globalized economic cooperation and increasing people to people contacts.

“Today, when the economy of Ukraine has embarked on the path of growth and Azerbaijan demonstrates active development, we have an immense potential of mutually beneficial cooperation,” he said.

According to Poroshenko, one of the most promising projects is the supply of Ukrainian An-178 aircrafts to Azerbaijan and joint production of these aircrafts in Azerbaijan in the future. “Successful implementation of this project will allow Ukrainian producers to create conditions for active development of new markets,” the President of Ukraine noted.

The presidents also discussed the transport corridors, particularly the implementation of the project on the New Silk Road. “Ukraine and Azerbaijan are actively involved in practical implementation of this project. Today, we have discussed means to improve its efficiency and mutual economic profitability,” he said.

Ukraine and Azerbaijan will enhance cooperation in the framework of the international organizations, emphasized the Ukrainian leader. “I am pleased to state that Kyiv and Baku share common views on the topical problems of global and regional agenda,” he added.

In the course of the negotiations, the parties discussed common work aimed at supplying Azerbaijani energy resources to the EU in the most efficient and economically beneficial way.

During the Baku visit, the Ukrainian leader also met with Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Artur Rasizade.

The parties discussed a wide range of issues in the economic bilateral cooperation, particularly implementation of joint projects in energy, transport and agricultural spheres.

Special attention was paid to the transportation of Azerbaijani energy carriers to the EU countries through Ukraine. The President noted that Ukraine had an appropriate technological potential for the effective implementation of that project, according to the official website of the Ukrainian president.

Poroshenko, while meeting with Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ogtay Asadov, expressed belief that intensification of Ukraine-Azerbaijan cooperation, restoration of the Council of Presidents and implementation of a series of joint projects would yield positive results.

“This provides optimism and we are confident about our future,” Poroshenko said.

The president noted the importance of maintaining constant Ukrainian-Azerbaijani interparliamentary dialogue with maximum use of declared strategic partnership between the two countries.

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