Azerbaijan backs increase of number of big regional economic projects Azerbaijani President

We want the number of huge regional projects to grow, Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev stated to the 9th summit of the leaders of ECO member-states which started in Baku on 5 May, Trend reports.

Opening the event Aliyev, which is chairing in the gathering, said that the economic potential of the member-states increases constantly, while Azerbaijan realizes more and more number of big regional projects, which attaches great importance. Last year the countrys economic growth comprised 26%, while in the quarter of 2006 a rise of GDP was 40% and this figure will be maintained in 2006.

Aliyev said that at present Azerbaijan participates in the projects on the Caspian oil and gas delivery to the Caspian. Upon commissioning the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline the economic situation and security in the region and security will get intensified, he underlined.

The Azerbaijani President also appreciated the mutual relationships with Iran in joint energy and gas projects.