Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 20 / Trend S.Agayeva /
Trend interviewed Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Political Analysis and Information Provision Department Head Elnur Aslanov.
Results of 2010
Aslanov regards 2010 as a successful for Azerbaijan in political and economic terms. Aslanov said it is necessary to ascertain some aspects of the development.
"First, 2010 will be remembered by the fourth parliamentary elections. The country held open and transparent elections with participation of all political forces. This is another step towards improving the country's democratic institutions and traditions," he said.
The second important aspect of the department, Aslanov said, Azerbaijan's economic indexes, which this year once again retained the momentum of regional leadership. "The fact that all these are observed on the background of declining, but still existing global financial crisis, is important," he said.
"So, as of late 2010, we can ascertain that over the past seven year wages and pensions in Azerbaijan rose by an average of 5-6 times, poverty reduced by 4 times and about 900,000 new jobs opened, of which 600,000 are permanent . The budget expenditures increased by 12 times, the military - almost 20 times and foreign exchange reserves - 18 times. Azerbaijan's foreign currency reserves made up more than $ 24 billion as of late 2010. Since 1995, $82 billion was invested in the country's economy. GDP growth for 11 months of 2010 is 4.5 percent. This, incidentally, is more than in some European countries and the USA. In the non-oil sector GDP grew by 5.9 percent and oil - by 2.6 percent. This is a clear indication that Azerbaijan's economy is a diversified economy," Aslanov said.
He said Azerbaijan's foreign economy in 2010 was aimed at diversifying the transportation of hydrocarbons from the Caspian Sea.
In June, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR) and Turkey's BOTAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding on sale and transportation of natural gas.
"In 2010, there was a significant event which, as President Ilham Aliyev stressed, has a special meaning as it is evidence that Azerbaijan has become a major gas country," Aslanov said. "A gas field Umid was discovered in Azerbaijan. The field's reserves hit 200 billion cubic meters of gas and 30-40 million tons of condensate. According to information received so far from this one well, total reserves are 250 billion cubic meters. The fact that such an achievement fell to the independent Azerbaijan is a real policy and real economy."
Aslanov said the country is gradually transformed into information and communications center of the region and it is an important component of modern development. "Azerbaijan has become an important link of East and West as a regional center, and we are no longer a bridge, which plays the role of just a transit country. We, as a regional center, themselves determine the future effectiveness of these projects, in which we are actively involved, "he said.