ID :
178415
Wed, 04/27/2011 - 22:32
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https://oananews.org//node/178415
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Ukrainian President: Ukraine's position on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is based on respect to Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity
Azerbaijan, Baku, April 27 /Trend, E.Tariverdiyeva /
Ukraine and Azerbaijan are strategic partners and relations between these countries are developing in the spirit of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, President of Ukraine Victor Yanykovich said in an interview with Trend in the run up to his official visit to Azerbaijan.
"Our countries has established and operate a unique bilateral organization of the top level - the Council of Presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, which meets on regular basis," Yanykovich stressed. "The Council of Presidents, which has recommended itself as an efficient mechanism to realize the existing potential of cooperation between the two countries on all specters of interaction, will convene its Third meeting during my visit to Azerbaijan."
According to Yanykovich, during the meeting the Council of Presidents will outline urgent tasks on further deepening cooperation between the two countries in key fields of interaction, particularly, in political, economic, energy, transport and space spheres.
"I would state with pleasure that over the past period the bilateral cooperation between our countries have developed very actively in the spirit of existing strategic partnership. At the same time, in the near future we should strengthen intensive political dialogue by realizing scaly projects in the economic field, develop long-term strategy of cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan in this direction," President Yanykovich added.
According to the Ukrainian president, the economic component should remain the very firm foundation enabling the sides to enrich the strategic partnership with a pragmatic content.
"In this context it is a pleasure to note that as of totals of 2010 the amount of bilateral trade turnover not only reached the pre-crisis figure of 2008, but exceeded it by reaching $1.6 billion. However, this is not the ceiling of our opportunities and we will work over improving conditions for Ukrainian companies operating in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani companies operating in Ukraine. I am sure that my visit to Azerbaijan will also contribute to it," Yanykovich stressed.
Regional policy and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Positions of Ukraine and Azerbaijan on many issues of regional policy are based on close approaches.
"We think ensuring peace, security and stability in the OSCE area is a key factor, which would promote economic development of countries in whole and improve welfare of their citizens. In turn, I would like to assure that Ukraine’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement remains unchanged and is based on respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders," President Yanykovich said.
Ukraine comes out of necessity of solving this and other "lingering" conflicts exclusively through peace talks, on the base of principles and norms of the international law, Yanykovich added.
"Ukraine will undertake the OSCE chairmanship in 2013. In this role we will render every assistance to the resolution of "lingering" conflicts. It also concerns the OSCE Minsk Group’s activities. We hope that the political will of conflicting sides will enable to conclude coordinating the principles, which will be taken as basis to find a solution to the conflict," Yanykovich stressed.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Energy
Yanykovich believes that the rapid growth of hydrocarbon production in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea, as well as the necessity to diversify the routes of oil supply to the final consumer meets the common interests of all participants in the exporter-transiter-consumer chain, which is provided in the EAOTC project.
Thus, an opportunity to integrate into the European energy space via the EAOTC project and to gain an access to the energy assets in Europe is a definite plus for Azerbaijan, he said.
"Ukraine is also interested in active participation in this project, particularly through rendering transit services. With regards to the European consumers, they will receive the shortest route, and therefore the cost-effective way to deliver Caspian oil to upload their refining capacity," Yanykovich said.
He said several concrete steps have been taken in this regard over the last year. "During the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, we have signed bilateral agreements on transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas and this creates the necessary basis for further development of cooperation, the President said.
As for reality, Yanykovich said Azerbaijan has been delivering oil for refinery at the Kremenchug refinery for already one and a half years, and there are plans to increase these deliveries. "Ukraine has begun transiting Azerbaijani oil via the Odessa-Brody pipeline to Belarus consumers," he stressed.
"I want to mention that regular supplies of the Caspian oil via Odessa-Brody pipeline not only increase the workload of the oil transportation system, but also strengthen the energy security in the region and Europe as a whole, confirming Ukraine's role as a reliable transit country," Yanykovich said.
He said the commissioning of the Odessa-Brody pipeline in averse regime was a serious signal that Ukraine has shifted from the declarations concerning the search for alternative sources of energy supply and country's favorable geographical location for the transit of hydrocarbons to concrete actions.
Thus, at a time when the world oil prices steadily rise, Europe can consider the EAOTC project in a new way, the president said. This year Ukraine can supplement the existing contracts for the transit of 4 million tons of Azerbaijani oil to Belarus with the transit of at least 3 million tons of oil to European refineries.
"In particular, we plan to substantively discuss with Poland the transportation of Caspian oil to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other consumers in Central and East Europe as part of the first phase of the EAOTC project," Yanykovich said.
Economic cooperation
The trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan at the present level is characterized with stable positive dynamics, Yanykovich said.
"The trade turnover between Ukraine and Azerbaijan has increased by 29 times over the past ten years. As I said, even during the global financial crisis, we managed to maintain a high level of bilateral trade and exceeded the pre-crisis figures in 2010. Certainly I express common view on the need to strengthen the post-crisis economic cooperation, mutual investments, the development of long-term programs and projects on specific areas of mutual interest," he said.
Ukraine and Azerbaijan have a great potential to develop business and investment component of relationships, and the sides have already taken concrete steps in this regard.
"I mean the meeting of the joint inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation, which was held in Baku April 21," the Ukrainian president added.
Yanykovich said concrete agreements on development of direct ties between the leading companies of the two countries, particularly in the energy sector, were reached during the meeting.
"Significant opportunities exist in the field of interregional relations, where we have already signed several cooperation agreements, particularly between Kiev and Baku, Sumgayit and Cherkassy, Ganja City and Volyn Oblast," said the President.
"We have to do much work in science, technology, aerospace, transport sectors. Exactly to discuss the current level of bilateral cooperation and identify the most promising sphere for further cooperation, I am heading to Baku on an official visit, where I will have a pleasure to discuss these issues with my colleague and a good friend, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev," Yanykovich underscored.
Ukraine and Azerbaijan are strategic partners and relations between these countries are developing in the spirit of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, President of Ukraine Victor Yanykovich said in an interview with Trend in the run up to his official visit to Azerbaijan.
"Our countries has established and operate a unique bilateral organization of the top level - the Council of Presidents of Ukraine and Azerbaijan, which meets on regular basis," Yanykovich stressed. "The Council of Presidents, which has recommended itself as an efficient mechanism to realize the existing potential of cooperation between the two countries on all specters of interaction, will convene its Third meeting during my visit to Azerbaijan."
According to Yanykovich, during the meeting the Council of Presidents will outline urgent tasks on further deepening cooperation between the two countries in key fields of interaction, particularly, in political, economic, energy, transport and space spheres.
"I would state with pleasure that over the past period the bilateral cooperation between our countries have developed very actively in the spirit of existing strategic partnership. At the same time, in the near future we should strengthen intensive political dialogue by realizing scaly projects in the economic field, develop long-term strategy of cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan in this direction," President Yanykovich added.
According to the Ukrainian president, the economic component should remain the very firm foundation enabling the sides to enrich the strategic partnership with a pragmatic content.
"In this context it is a pleasure to note that as of totals of 2010 the amount of bilateral trade turnover not only reached the pre-crisis figure of 2008, but exceeded it by reaching $1.6 billion. However, this is not the ceiling of our opportunities and we will work over improving conditions for Ukrainian companies operating in Azerbaijan and Azerbaijani companies operating in Ukraine. I am sure that my visit to Azerbaijan will also contribute to it," Yanykovich stressed.
Regional policy and Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Positions of Ukraine and Azerbaijan on many issues of regional policy are based on close approaches.
"We think ensuring peace, security and stability in the OSCE area is a key factor, which would promote economic development of countries in whole and improve welfare of their citizens. In turn, I would like to assure that Ukraine’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement remains unchanged and is based on respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan within its internationally recognized borders," President Yanykovich said.
Ukraine comes out of necessity of solving this and other "lingering" conflicts exclusively through peace talks, on the base of principles and norms of the international law, Yanykovich added.
"Ukraine will undertake the OSCE chairmanship in 2013. In this role we will render every assistance to the resolution of "lingering" conflicts. It also concerns the OSCE Minsk Group’s activities. We hope that the political will of conflicting sides will enable to conclude coordinating the principles, which will be taken as basis to find a solution to the conflict," Yanykovich stressed.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France and the U.S. - are currently holding peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Energy
Yanykovich believes that the rapid growth of hydrocarbon production in the Azerbaijani section of the Caspian Sea, as well as the necessity to diversify the routes of oil supply to the final consumer meets the common interests of all participants in the exporter-transiter-consumer chain, which is provided in the EAOTC project.
Thus, an opportunity to integrate into the European energy space via the EAOTC project and to gain an access to the energy assets in Europe is a definite plus for Azerbaijan, he said.
"Ukraine is also interested in active participation in this project, particularly through rendering transit services. With regards to the European consumers, they will receive the shortest route, and therefore the cost-effective way to deliver Caspian oil to upload their refining capacity," Yanykovich said.
He said several concrete steps have been taken in this regard over the last year. "During the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, we have signed bilateral agreements on transportation of oil and liquefied natural gas and this creates the necessary basis for further development of cooperation, the President said.
As for reality, Yanykovich said Azerbaijan has been delivering oil for refinery at the Kremenchug refinery for already one and a half years, and there are plans to increase these deliveries. "Ukraine has begun transiting Azerbaijani oil via the Odessa-Brody pipeline to Belarus consumers," he stressed.
"I want to mention that regular supplies of the Caspian oil via Odessa-Brody pipeline not only increase the workload of the oil transportation system, but also strengthen the energy security in the region and Europe as a whole, confirming Ukraine's role as a reliable transit country," Yanykovich said.
He said the commissioning of the Odessa-Brody pipeline in averse regime was a serious signal that Ukraine has shifted from the declarations concerning the search for alternative sources of energy supply and country's favorable geographical location for the transit of hydrocarbons to concrete actions.
Thus, at a time when the world oil prices steadily rise, Europe can consider the EAOTC project in a new way, the president said. This year Ukraine can supplement the existing contracts for the transit of 4 million tons of Azerbaijani oil to Belarus with the transit of at least 3 million tons of oil to European refineries.
"In particular, we plan to substantively discuss with Poland the transportation of Caspian oil to Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and other consumers in Central and East Europe as part of the first phase of the EAOTC project," Yanykovich said.
Economic cooperation
The trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Azerbaijan at the present level is characterized with stable positive dynamics, Yanykovich said.
"The trade turnover between Ukraine and Azerbaijan has increased by 29 times over the past ten years. As I said, even during the global financial crisis, we managed to maintain a high level of bilateral trade and exceeded the pre-crisis figures in 2010. Certainly I express common view on the need to strengthen the post-crisis economic cooperation, mutual investments, the development of long-term programs and projects on specific areas of mutual interest," he said.
Ukraine and Azerbaijan have a great potential to develop business and investment component of relationships, and the sides have already taken concrete steps in this regard.
"I mean the meeting of the joint inter-governmental commission on economic cooperation, which was held in Baku April 21," the Ukrainian president added.
Yanykovich said concrete agreements on development of direct ties between the leading companies of the two countries, particularly in the energy sector, were reached during the meeting.
"Significant opportunities exist in the field of interregional relations, where we have already signed several cooperation agreements, particularly between Kiev and Baku, Sumgayit and Cherkassy, Ganja City and Volyn Oblast," said the President.
"We have to do much work in science, technology, aerospace, transport sectors. Exactly to discuss the current level of bilateral cooperation and identify the most promising sphere for further cooperation, I am heading to Baku on an official visit, where I will have a pleasure to discuss these issues with my colleague and a good friend, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev," Yanykovich underscored.
