Azerbaijani Deputy Premier meets Japanese Ambassador

Baku, February 21 (AzerTAc). Azerbaijani Deputy Premier, Chairman of the State Committee for Refugee and IDP Affairs Ali Hasanov met Japan`s Ambassador n Tsuguo Takahashi. Hasanov said that Japan and Azerbaijan lifted bilateral ties to a higher level. The Deputy Premier described Japan and Azerbaijan as ‘friendly’ countries. He expressed his confidence that this cooperation will continue to develop successfully. On the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Hasanov said Armenia`s aggression forced over 1 million people from their homes and resulted in occupation of 20 percent of the Azerbaijani lands. “The occupied lands are currently used for drug traffic, narcotic cultivation and are considered the transnational crime zone.” Hasanov pointed out that President Ilham Aliyev`s policy enabled Azerbaijan to gain more international backing to its fair position. According to him, this dispute has not been solved yet because of the non-constructive stance of Armenia, which disregards resolutions on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict adopted by reputable international organizations. Hasanov briefed the Ambassador on the measures to improve social and housing problems of refugees and IDPs put in place in the country under President Ilham Aliyev and with the assistance of international organizations. He underlined the role of international humanitarian aid, loans, Japan`s technical cooperation and grant projects in making living conditions of IDPs and refugees better. With the economy developing fast, Azerbaijan created 82 residential areas for IDPs and refugees, thus, improving housing conditions of 180,000 people. The Deputy Premier noted the humanitarian programs are in progress too. Takahashi pointed out Azerbaijan managed to achieve rapid economic expansion thanks to the effective use of energy resources. The Ambassador noted that Azerbaijan is becoming stronger not only economically but also politically given its tenure a member of the UN Security Council. He pointed out that energy-rich Azerbaijan cooperates with the Japanese companies in development of oil fields and construction of pipelines. The Ambassador noted that the Japanese firms are interested in investing in the non-oil sector of Azerbaijan adding it will open the way for the development of economic ties between the countries. The Ambassador expressed confidence that Japan and Azerbaijan would continue to develop political, economic and humanitarian ties.