By Vestnik Kavkaza
On November 12th the President of Iran Hassan Rouhani marked his 66th birthday. And he did it in Baku. The symbolic fact was considered by experts as a sign of sincere respect and trust to Azerbaijan, an attempt to solve all the problems which exist between the two neighboring states. It is the first official visit of the Iranian President to Baku, but the fourth meeting of Rouhani and Ilham Aliyev. They have met before in Davos, Tehran and Astrakhan.
Moreover, Hassan Rouhani met the chairman of the Directorate of Caucasus Muslims, Allahshukyur Pashazade, in Baku. Pashazade stated that the relations that are based on historic and religious foundations would contribute to peace, cooperation, development of the two states, and prosperity of peoples.
The Iranian-Azerbaijani Business Forum also took place at the time. A positive investment atmosphere is being created in Azerbaijan; and hundreds of Iranian companies are successfully working in various sectors there. Considering the volume of direct foreign investments, Azerbaijan is a leader in the post-Soviet space. Last year $28 billion was invested in the country’s economy, 30% of them are foreign investments. “It means that foreign investors believe in the future of Azerbaijan. They are satisfied with Azerbaijan’s investment and business conditions,” Ilham Aliyev stated at the business forum.
Baku hopes that in the future $20-25 billion will be invested in the Azerbaijani economy. At the same time, private and state-funded Azerbaijani companies are ready to invest in Iran. There are plans for infrastructural, industrial, service projects.
Iran and Azerbaijan are self-sufficient economies and don’t depend on foreign creditors. And economic independence brings political advantages. “A country cannot provide purely independent policy without economic independence. Iran and Azerbaijan are countries which provide independent policy in the international arena, and from this point of view we differ from some countries significantly. Thus, mutual investing is certainly possible on the background of wonderful political ties,” Aliyev said.
Political ties of Baku and Tehran are at a high level, and businessmen could use the opportunities for cooperation in infrastructural projects.
In Azerbaijan development of the economy is based on five-year programs. At the moment the third state program is being realized; the first one was adopted in 2004. The programs are quite specific. They say in what town, village what kind of work will be provided, when it will be finished, what structure is responsible for the work. All information is available and any company can read it.
In the last 10 years the Azerbaijani economy has trebled, while budget expenditures grew 20 times; the poverty level has fallen from 49% to 5%. The foreign debt is only 8% of GDP. Economic independence enables Baku to protect its positions in settlement of international questions. “The international community supports Azerbaijan. Otherwise they wouldn’t choose it as a member of the UN Security Council with the support of 155 countries,” Aliyev says. “Our position is fair; it is based on international law and justice. Of course conflicts, wars, and tension appear when international law and justice are violated.”
Azerbaijan and Iran are close not only geographically, but also they have common interests in the sphere of oil and gas transit. Both countries are rich with them.
“Our nations have always been together. Today the two sovereign states are building their future independently, and no force can disturb their relations. We won’t let them do it, even though there are such attempts. However, the strong will of both countries won’t allow anyone to interfere in our relations and commit provocations to achieve some interests. This is prevented by the strong political will of the countries and support for the policy by the Iranian and Azerbaijani societies,” Ilham Aliyev stated.
Hassan Rouhani agreed with Ilham Aliyev in this aspect. He noted the importance of contacts in the spheres of energy, trade, industry, building dams and power plants, development of new technologies, and pointed out the sincerity of Iranian-Azerbaijani relations. Rouhani promised that nobody could destroy the ties. The Iranian President stated that Tehran doesn’t approve the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and urged the sides to settle the conflict by political means; he stressed that Iran would contribute to settlement of the conflict for justice, peace and stability in the region. Rouhani expressed his desire to use the common religion, ideas, customs, and traditions which are foundations of the unity of Iran and Azerbaijan more effectively. Azerbaijan and Iran have such a geographical situation that they can be a bridge between Iran and Europe and Azerbaijan and the southern corridors.
