Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 7 / Trend M. Aliyev /
Azerbaijan has become Europe's major energy partner, head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev said at the international conference "20 Years of Independence: achievements and challenges to the progressive, equitable and dynamic nation-building" in Baku today.
"The discovery of new gas fields increased Azerbaijan's export potential, putting it in a number of world's major gas producing countries," Mehdiyev said.
He said regional projects, including construction of oil and gas pipelines, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, made a special contribution to regional cooperation.
"As a leading country in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan turned into a major, leading force of the regional partnership," he said. "This is a bright example of effective statehood, a strong economy and national unity of Azerbaijan."
He said the reforms were conducted in the country. Radical and systemic changes were made over the years passed since the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence. Much work was done to establish economic relations on a new basis.
Armenia's military aggression, the economic recession, inflation and political chaos amid the geopolitical struggle against the powerful world countries in early 1990s put the future of Azerbaijan under question, Mehdiyev said.
"In this situation, despite the great economic and intellectual potential, as well as natural energy reserves, our people's life was unbearable, the people's faith in the future faded away," Mehdiyev noted.
He said the return of Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev to power in June 1993 became a symbol of a new era in the Azerbaijani modern history.
"By combining all the powerful forces, people, living with the idea of statehood, he saved Azerbaijan from such a serious situation, by establishing a new development strategy," he underscored.
Mehdiyev said Azerbaijan's economic strength has increased several times over the past 20 years. Becoming a main, leading vector of the regional economic development, the country's economy hits more than 80 percent of the economy of the South Caucasus countries.
He noted that the economic reforms in the country, including privatization and liberalization of the economy, stipulated the formation of market relations and the completion of a transition period for a short period of time.
"The macroeconomic indices characterize the sustainable development of the country's economy," he said. "They also pointed to the healthy foundation for future development."
He stressed that President Aliyev's appeal on "turning black gold into human capital" became a priority. This once again points to the authorities' sensitive approach to the problem.
"If the state, fulfilling its functions, allows people to develop its skills and knowledge in safe conditions, this ensures the society's development," he said. "We understand that the state care of human factor development ensures our safe future."
Mehdiyev underscored that the fate of the planet, healthy living of future generation, regardless of where they live, must disturb everyone. The idea that the Earth is a universal treasure for everyone must become a key element of the daily, as well as political activity.
"Azerbaijan's economic model is based on searching the unity between private and social, as well as reassessing the role of state intervention in economic processes," he noted. "The state is regulating economic relations and creates necessary conditions for economic growth through various means. Today, the expansion of Azerbaijan's financial opportunities allows supporting the various spheres of economic activity and ensuring the country's branchy economy."
According to Mehdiyev, Azerbaijan's economic strategy, founded in 1993, became the pride of the country, thanks to the real results achieved today.