The Gulistan Palace in Baku is hosting an international conference to mark the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijani independence today.
Over 300 officials from 58 states, the European Parliament, the OSCE, PACE, Euronest, Nobel Prize winners, scientists and businessmen have arrived.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took part in the forum. A film on Azerbaijani independence was demonstrated, APA reports.
Ali Gasanov, head of the socio-political section of the Presidential Administration, reminded those gathered that Azerbaijan signed a significant contract in 1994, making the state an alternative energy source. The rich reserves of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan will provide Europe with energy.
Azerbaijan has 14 billion barrels of oil reserves confirmed and 20-24 billion barrels of unconfirmed reserves. It also has 2.55 trillion cubic meters of gas reserves, or about 10 trillion unconfirmed.
Azerbaijan has one of the highest reserves of gold, copper and other resources in the South Caucasus.
Gasanov added that Azerbaijan wants to join NATO and is not a member of other military alliances. Azerbaijan is a neutral state, he concluded.
