President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has embarked on a visit to the Federal Republic of Germany to attend the 59th Munich Security Conference.
On February 17, President Ilham Aliyev met with CEO of the German Eastern Business Association Michael Harms in Munich.
President Ilham Aliyev said good conditions had been created for German companies to operate in Azerbaijan and praised the country’s successful experience with German companies. The Azerbaijani leader underlined both countries cooperate in a variety of fields including industry, trade and economy.
The head of state hailed trade turnover increase between Azerbaijan and Germany last year and described the surge of mutual export as a positive factor.
President Ilham Aliyev said Azerbaijan is the European Union’s reliable partner, adding there are close ties between the European Union and Azerbaijan.
CEO of the German Eastern Business Association Michael Harms thanked for the meeting and recalled with pleasure his last meeting with the head of state. He pointed out that notwithstanding the Covid-19-caused impact, there is a fundamental growth of economic relations and trade turnover.
President Ilham Aliyev briefed Michael Harms on the ongoing reforms in various fields in Azerbaijan including customs and tax ones, and underlined that Azerbaijan is an attractive destination for foreign investors. The head of state also provided information about the steps undertaken towards establishment free trade zones and increased logistics and transport capabilities in Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani leader said there are ample opportunities for operation of German companies in Azerbaijan, and invited the member companies of the German Eastern Business Association to make a familiarization visit to Azerbaijan.
The President of Azerbaijan emphasized there is a significant room for representation of German companies in rebuilding works in the liberated lands. The head of state mentioned the “Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development”, adding that it outlined strategic priorities for development of the Azerbaijan’s economy and set the stage for development of cooperation between the two countries, including that with German companies.
President Ilham Aliyev highlighted the renewable energy development projects in Azerbaijan, EU-Azerbaijan energy partnership and underlined the importance of the strategic energy document signed last year between Azerbaijan and the European Union with participation of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. The head of state stressed Azerbaijan has enormous renewable energy potential both in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian sea and onshore, saying steps had been undertaken towards development of this project within the partnership with the EU and that there are great opportunities for cooperation with German companies in this field. In this respect, President Ilham Aliyev also underlined the importance of the quadruple memorandum signed by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary.
Michael Harms thanked for the information provided and underlined that German companies are satisfied with their operations in Azerbaijan. Harms said Azerbaijan is an attractive destination for German companies’ direct investments, adding Azerbaijan’s expanding transport and logistics capabilities make the country even more attractive for German firms. Harms let the Azerbaijani leader know that he is going to visit Azerbaijan together with German companies.
Michael Harms said German companies are particularly keen on the renewable energy and underlined there is great room for cooperation in this field.
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A round table on “Pipe Dreams: Future-Proofing Energy Security” has been held on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event.
Highlighting Azerbaijan`s contribution to Europe's energy security, the head of state said that increase in Azerbaijan`s gas supply last year was a short-term contribution to Europe's energy security. The Azerbaijani President noted that the goal in the medium and long term is the expansion of the Southern Gas Corridor proposed by Azerbaijan. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that by 2027, it is planned to increase gas transportation through TAP from the current 11 billion cubic meters to 20 billion cubic meters, and via TANAP from 16 billion cubic meters to 31 billion cubic meters.
Recalling that a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership in the field of energy was signed last year between Azerbaijan and the European Union in Baku with participation of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the head of state stressed that cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in the field of energy will continue to expand in line with this document.
Saying that renewable energy has a special role in cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, President Ilham Aliyev pointed out that Azerbaijan had taken a number of important steps in this field recently. The head of state underscored that a number of projects in this area are already being implemented in Azerbaijan, and various documents on energy production of up to 25 gigawatts had been signed. The President said that this will allow the green energy produced by Azerbaijan to be exported to Europe in addition to domestic consumption, which will contribute to Europe's energy security in the medium and long term. President Ilham Aliyev underlined that Azerbaijan will continue to play an important role in Europe's energy security.
Other speakers at the event specially emphasized Azerbaijan's contribution to Europe's energy security in the past period, especially last year, hailed the cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field and expressed confidence that it will be sustainable.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the European Council Charles Michel in Munich.
The meeting saw discussions revolve around the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, negotiations on a peace treaty and the Brussels peace process.
President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan supports the Brussels peace process.
Charles Michel said the European Union will continue its efforts towards the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, negotiations on a peace treaty, and ensuring stability and security in the South Caucasus.
During the conversation, they also exchanged views on the activities of the European Union mission in Armenia.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the Conference of European Rabbis Pinchas Goldschmidt in Munich.
The head of state said at the meeting that the Jewish community had always lived in the environment of friendship, fraternity and mutual understanding in Azerbaijan and were free to worship, and added that the conditions had been created for the synagogues to function.
President İlham Aliyev touched upon the Jewish community living in the Guba district of Azerbaijan and underlined that the government had always supported the Jewish community and regularly put in place all the measures to improve their living conditions. The head of state said it had been the way of living for the people of Azerbaijan across millennia.
President of the Conference of European Rabbis Pinchas Goldschmidt recalled with pleasure his visit to Azerbaijan in 1997 and meeting with Great Leader Heydar Aliyev, and added that the meeting with the National Leader had a deep impression on him. He underlined that the activity of the Jewish community of Azerbaijan is based on the solid foundation, and thanked the head of state for the conditions created and care for the Jewish community.
Pinchas Goldschmidt said that the conditions created for representatives of various religions including the Jewish community are the example for other countries. He said he visited the Guba district and familiarized himself with the living conditions of the Jewish community, adding existence of 13 synagogues there had a deep impression on him.
The President of the Conference of European Rabbis hailed the comprehensive development of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel, adding that the Jewish communities living in different countries also contributed to the development of these ties.
President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the successful development of partnership and friendship between Azerbaijan and Israel in various areas. The head of state expressed confidence that the opening of Azerbaijan`s embassy in Israel would greatly contribute to the development of these relations.
The intention of representatives of the European Jewish community to visit Azerbaijan was stressed at the meeting.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Minister of Defense of the State of Israel Yoav Gallant in Munich.
President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Yoav Gallant on his appointment as the Defense Minister of Israel, and hailed the contacts and telephone conversations held between him and Azerbaijan's defense minister.
The head of state noted that the relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are of a friendly and partnership nature, and praised the development of cooperation in various areas, including defense and military-technical ones.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed his confidence that the opening of Azerbaijan's embassy in Israel soon will make a greater contribution to the development of relations between the two countries.
Yoav Gallant conveyed the greetings of the leadership of the State of Israel to the head of state.
President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings, and asked Yoav Gallant to extend his greetings to the leadership of the State of Israel.
Minister Yoav Gallant hailed the development of relations between the two countries, and recalled his visit to Azerbaijan, adding that the conditions created for the Jewish community in the city of Guba made a great impression on him.
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with head of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Nechirvan Barzani in Munich.
Expressing gratitude for the meeting, Nechirvan Barzani said that there is great potential for developing relations between Azerbaijan and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He expressed his congratulations over Azerbaijan`s achievements under President Ilham Aliyev`s leadership, and emphasized that the country is successfully developing as a result of the visionary policy of the head of state.
Noting that there are common historical and cultural ties between the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Azerbaijan, Nechirvan Barzani pointed out that this region has very close relations with Türkiye and joint cooperation projects can be considered in this regard.
Underlining that Azerbaijan and Türkiye enjoy brotherly relations, the head of state said that trilateral cooperation mechanisms can be considered in the future.
Nechirvan Barzani underscored that tourists from the Kurdistan Region of Iraq visited Azerbaijan, adding that they were very satisfied with their trips.
The head of state noted that there is great potential for developing ties with the Kurdistan Region of Iraq in economic and trade areas. “Therefore, it is possible to consider building direct contacts between business communities, as well as establishing various institutions in the format of a business council.”
President Ilham Aliyev invited Nechirvan Barzani to visit Azerbaijan.
The invitation was accepted with gratitude.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with Chief Executive Director of “Leonardo” Alessandro Profumo in Munich.
President Ilham Aliyev noted that there is strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy, and recalled with pleasure his state and official visits to Italy.
The head of state pointed out that Italy is the Azerbaijan’s closest partner in the European Union. The Azerbaijani leader described the Azerbaijan visits of three Italian ministers in recent months as a real indicator of development of bilateral relations, adding Azerbaijan places a special weight on cooperation with Leonardo, one of the Italy’s leading firms.
The Azerbaijani President underscored the importance of expanding the existing cooperation in the defense industry.
President Ilham Aliyev said Italy-Azerbaijan energy cooperation is successfully developing, citing the participation of “Ansaldo Energia” company in construction of the 1,280-MW thermal power plant as an example of this.
President Ilham Aliyev stressed the contribution of Italian companies to reconstruction works in the liberated lands of Azerbaijan.
“Leonardo” CEO Alessandro Profumo noted he is ready to make his contribution to Italy-Azerbaijan cooperation based on strategic partnership between the two countries. Profumo said cooperation with Azerbaijan is already present in a variety of fields, and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the defense industry even more.
Alessandro Profumo underlined that contacts with Azerbaijan would be continued from now on.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Werner Hoyer in Munich.
The head of state hailed the cooperation between the EIB and Azerbaijan, noting that Azerbaijan enjoys very close ties with the European Union.
The Azerbaijani President expressed his gratitude to the European Investment Bank for its close engagement as a financial partner in the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor.
Highlighting the development of digital transformation, export of renewable energy resources, concept of the expansion of transport links which are on the development agenda of Azerbaijan, the head of state said that the European Investment Bank can be a close partner of Azerbaijan in all three areas.
President Ilham Aliyev recalled the visit of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to Azerbaijan, and his meetings with President of the European Council Charles Michel.
The head of state emphasized Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring Europe’s energy security, as well as the Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership that was signed during the visit of Ursula von der Leyen to Azerbaijan.
Noting that Azerbaijan has increased gas export to the European energy market, President Ilham Aliyev also underlined that the country has great renewable energy potential in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea and onshore. In this regard, the head of state stressed the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between Azerbaijan, Georgia, Romania and Hungary, and underlined that various documents on the production of renewable energy up to 25 gigawatts had been signed with international partner companies, and that the work is underway in this area.
Highlighting the plans to further increase the transport and logistics potential of Azerbaijan and create a free trade zone as a country located on the Middle Corridor, President Ilham Aliyev said that there great opportunities for cooperation in this field, adding that the country has also an attractive investment environment.
President of the European Investment Bank Werner Hoyer noted that the strategic line mentioned by President Ilham Aliyev is in full compliance with the financing strategy of the financial institution he chairs, as well as with the goals set in the "EU Global Gateway" strategy adopted by the European Union, and stressed that he is interested in cooperation with Azerbaijan in these areas. He underlined that the European Investment Bank particularly actively supports the "Green energy" concept.
Werner Hoyer emphasized that President Ilham Aliyev wisely used the country's financial resources to implement projects that serve the long-term development of Azerbaijan. He also expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s role in ensuring the energy security of the European Union.
During the meeting, the sides have agreed to continue contacts at the level of delegations and determine joint projects of mutual interest.
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A joint meeting of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has been held in Munich.
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President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has met with OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid in Munich.
