NEWS
Prime Minister Janez Janša: "The establishment of a joint economic committee is one of the greatest achievements of the visit to Azerbaijan"
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, who is, accompanied by a sizeable business delegation, currently on an official visit to Azerbaijan, was today received by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Alijev. Prime Minister Janša also met with Azerbaijani Prime Minister, Arthur Rasizade, with whom he agreed on the establishment of a joint economic committee, and attended the opening of the Azerbaijani-Slovenian Business Forum. Approximately 200 business representatives and representatives of science and research institutions took part in the Forum.
President Alijev and Prime Minister Janša assessed that bilateral relations between the two countries are friendly and that there are no outstanding issues. In their opinion, the high-level political visit and the sizeable business delegation present during the visit bode well for the enhancement of economic cooperation between the two countries in the future. "I am convinced that the visit today with the business delegation has promoted and strengthened the bilateral relations between our two countries," assessed Prime Minister Janša and added that specific projects need to be launched. President Alijev agreed that the economies of the two countries are complementary and emphasised that Azerbaijan is very interested in economic cooperation with Slovenia and in new opportunities for investments.
President Alijev and Prime Minister Janša also discussed issues related to energy security and the situation in the region. "When we speak about the diversification of energy supply routes and in particular the diversification of energy sources, Azerbaijan is definitely a strategic point for the European Union," Prime Minister Janša pointed out. With regard to the geostrategic position and the problematic situation in the region, Azerbaijan has become – by acting reasonably in the last 15 years – a factor of stability in the region as well as a strategic point supporting the international community in Afghanistan.
At the opening of the Azerbaijani-Slovenian Business Forum attended by approximately 200 Azerbaijani and Slovenian business representatives and representatives of scientific and research institutions, Prime Minister Janša stressed that the large number of participants only confirms the increasing mutual interest in enhancing economic cooperation. "After the meetings in November 2009 and June 2011, this has already been the third business meeting between Slovenian and Azerbaijani companies in the last three years," recalled the Slovenian Prime Minister adding that the current bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries has not yet reflected all the opportunities offered by the two economies.
The Slovenian Government has endeavoured through a variety of measures to create a business environment that would be open and attractive for foreign investments and these in turn would provide new jobs. Prime Minister Janša emphasised that the Slovenian Government has also made every effort from the start of its term of office to focus the economic interest on dynamic, prosperous and fast-growing markets, among which is also Azerbaijan. "There are opportunities for the expansion and enhancement of cooperation in almost all economic areas," said Prime Minister Janša and expressed his belief that the business meeting today will give new impetus to and raise interest in specific projects on both sides.
Prime Minister Janša and Azerbaijani Prime Minister Rasizade also highlighted the friendly relations between the two countries and the numerous possibilities for extending them. In this context, Prime Minister Janša mentioned in particular the agreement with the Azerbaijani Government on the establishment of a joint economic committee, which is in his opinion "one of the greatest achievements of this visit". The Slovenian Prime Minister further stressed that after different meetings it is very important to continue the work and implement the agreements. In his words, the numerous and different ideas, initiatives, letters of intent and the already concluded agreements should be formalised within the joint economic committee in form of a memorandum and an implementation timetable for the next four years be drawn up, which should then be implemented accordingly. The joint economic committee is supposed to meet for the first time this year in Slovenia and Prime Minister Janša invited the Azerbaijani Prime Minister to visit our country on this occasion.
Two agreements, i.e. the Agreement on International Road Transport of Passengers and Goods and the Agreement on the Exemption of Visa Requirements for Holders of Service Passports, were also signed in the presence of both Prime Ministers.