Azerbaijan celebrates 103rd anniversary of the Republic Day (part 2)

By Shahin Abdullayev

The development of infrastructure is one of the important directions of social-economic policy. Development of international and transit corridors and roads, inter-district, city and district road-transport infrastructure, as well as rapid integration of national transport systems to world communication, was the focus of transport policy.

The International Conference on the reconstruction of the “Great Silk Road” was organized successfully by the participation and support of some structures of the EU in Baku, in September 1998. The Main Many-sided Agreement on International Transport on development of TRASEKA, the Euro-Caucasus-Asia transit corridor, was signed by 12 countries of Europe and Asia on 8 September 1998, and the volume of transit load passing through Azerbaijan increased rapidly.

Projects initiated by Aliyev are now being implemented by President Ilham Aliyev. In 2018 TAP and the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) successfully completed their connection with the final golden weld, which physically connected the two pipelines. TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe.

The 878 km long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, across Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy. During his presidency, the nation’s foreign policy was rebuilt and transformed into a balanced policy. Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and other countries, as well as cooperation with international organizations, particularly the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and Arab World countries, started to strengthen. Non-Aligned Movement.

On 25-26 October 2019 Azerbaijan hosted the 18th Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the NonAligned Movement in its capital city of Baku. During Baku Summit Azerbaijan has taken over the chairmanship of the Movement for 2019-2022 years.

Online Summit level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group in response to COVID-19 - On 4 May 2020, upon the initiative of H.E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Chair of the Non-Aligned Movement, Online Summit level Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group in response to COVID-19, under the theme of “United against COVID-19 pandemic” was held. Azerbaijan has been elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term of 2012-2013 after receiving the vote of 155 Member States.

The main ideal and political direction of the leadership philosophy of Heydar Aliyev was characterized by a wide expansion of all forms and means of national self-expression of the people, consolidation of the national dignity and realization of rapid development strategy stimulating the elevation of national consciousness. Heydar Aliyev’s philosophy of Azerbaijanism, which was created at the time, determined the place of Azerbaijan in the modern world, provided a strong basis for the solidarity of the world Azerbaijanis as an ideological ground to the national statehood.

Today under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan pursues a constructive policy and cooperates with countries in the region and around the world on mutually beneficial terms. Thanks to his far-sighted and wise policy Azerbaijan has liberated its occupied territory. With the liberation of the territories of Azerbaijan occupied for almost 30 years, the country has begun the process of restoration and reconstruction of these territories.

At present, huge reconstruction works are being carried out in these territories, including the restoration of our historical, cultural and religious heritage, which was destroyed during the decades. Nowadays Azerbaijan is a country that pursues a policy of establishing mutually beneficial cooperation with all states, including the Kingdom of Bahrain and builds its relationships based on the principles of international law. Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Bahrain were established on November 6, 1996. The relations between the two countries developed gradually during the last 25 years. I

n October 2017 in Baku was held the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)–Azerbaijan Business Forum, including all six members: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and Oman. The conclusion of the forum was to support and encourage the GCC-Azerbaijan economic partnership and cooperation. The forum concluded that the GCC’s total investment so far in Azerbaijan was about $1.3 billion, while Azerbaijan maintained an investment of $300 million in the GCCs. İn 2018 the trade turnover between the GCCs and Azerbaijan, which reached $83 million.

Moreover, there are approximately 260 GCC companies operating inside Azerbaijan. The second Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-Azerbaijan Business Forum was held online in March 2021. The relationship of Azerbaijan and Bahrain is not only improving in political and economic terms but also, apparently, in culture, sports and tourism. It is important to note that both countries are members of the OIC, and they share some cultural, religious, and historical similarities.

Azerbaijan and Bahrain cooperate mainly within the United Nations and the Organization of Islamic Countries. A working group on Azerbaijan-Bahrain interparliamentary relations functions in the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan. So far, a number of visits have taken place between the two countries. Currently, cooperation between the two countries is developing successfully in economy and culture. Three documents on the development of cooperation in various fields have been signed by the two countries so far, and seventeen more deals are expected to be signed in the near future.