KAZAKHSTAN AND AZERBAIJAN HAVE SIMILAR ISSUES …
Mr. Ambassador, how do Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan mutual relations develop, which sphere of cooperation more priority on your opinion?
- I can state with great satisfaction that presently, there is observed visible activation of large spectrum in Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan mutual relations. It shows in increasing of quantity of mutual visits on behalf of different level's delegations and in growth of turnover between two states that according to Azerbaijan statistics' data only in 2004 made $303 mln. exceeded 2003 figure to 2 times.
Concluding the contracts became more frequent do not connect with economy composing cooperation between our nations, we can constant the progress in deepening into cultural-humanitarian and other relations too.
In major cases it happens due to created agreement-legal base having more than 80 documents and the major of them became contract signed during the President of Kazakhstan, Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev visiting Azerbaijan in May 2005. Contract on strategy partnership and allied relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Azerbaijan. Major in development of stated relations is Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission on Economy Cooperation.
Commission's recommendations cover large spectrum of bilateral relations, including on activation of cooperation in issues of mutual industry and agricultural production's supplying, regulation the cooperation relations in the sphere of oil & gas machine-building, chemical and petrochemical, transport, FEC, processing production of agrarian industry complex, Caspian Sea environmental safety, cultural-humanitarian relations, etc.
So, I can mention that all cooperation directions between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are successfully developed and have stable basis for further improvement.
Which projects have underlined in further economy approach of two countries and which of them are being planned to be realized?
- As you aware, economy cooperation defines the level of mutual relations between nations. In this connection I would like to inform readers that there exists some successfully realized and oriented to future projects in the given direction between two countries.
It is pleasant that presently, 17 Kazakhstan companies and enterprises are registered in Azerbaijan, 36 enterprises with participation of Azerbaijan capital operating in our republic. Stated companies operated in the sphere of trade, building of civil engineering constructions, vessels' repairing and in others. Important role in economy mutual relations plays the matter regarding Kazakhstan's hydrocarbon transportation via Azerbaijan.
There were transported via Azerbaijan from Aktau port more than 3 mln. tons of oil only in 2004.
Profitable prerequisites for making good an effective transport communication, cargo shipments expansion, including transit defines the participation of our states in TRACECA project.
There is enhanced processing direction between companies and stated sphere is planned to develop in future.
Particularly, there are elaborated the projects between Azerbaijan's State Concern "Azerkhimia" and companies from Kazakhstan on processing of polystyrene, benzol and ethylbenzol, technical carbon.
Taking into consideration this goal there is planned to continue operations on contact formation with using scientific-research and project-constructor elaboration.
There is supposed the continuation of cooperation between companies of oil and gas machine-building on mutual supplies of important processing production's types, quality and competitiveness increasing, creation special basis for service of oil and gas equipment.
Nomenclature of mutual goods' supplies is expanded. Today, main articles of Kazakhstan export in Azerbaijan are natural gas, power equipment, metals, chemical compound, tobacco production, grain production and others.
Petroleum products, componentary for machine and mechanisms, chemical production, pumps and fluids lifting, etc. are supplied from Azerbaijan to Kazakhstan.
Simultaneously, the parties express their interest in deepening of relations in the sphere of investment for more close approach of two nations' economy.
Which key agreements are achieved between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan during Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev's May visiting Baku and how are they being implemented and their ultimate goal?
- First of all, I would like to state that Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev's visit to Azerbaijan became famous event in bilateral relations and gave additional impulse to cooperation in all exist directions.
Kazakhstan's chief during his visit emphasized that geopolitical situation of two countries serve the necessity of overall relations' development between two states.
Achieved agreements were connected with further deepening of relations in oil and gas sphere, for instance the matters about oil transportation, equipment aimed to oil production supplies and manufacturing, specialists exchange, cooperation in the field of agriculture, particularly grain and agrarian industry production's supplies.
Also I would like to remind that within the frame of Kazakhstan's chief participation at the ceremony of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline's commissioning Kazakhstan side represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. K.Tokayev signed Baku declaration about development and expansion of energy transport corridor East-West.
And the implementation of achieved agreements is possible to observe now.
Thus, "NC "Kazakhstan Engineering" conducts mutually with Azerbaijan partners the operation on supplies of deliverables and details for drilling units, realize the agreements regarding development of construction documentation of equipment aimed for drilling of and repairing of wells and others.
There is continued joint elaboration of paper about assistance and supporting to Kazakhstan's oil transportation via the Caspian Sea and the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Kazakhstan's delegation visited Baku in June of 2005 and the staff of delegation: representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, some regional akimat, other state bodies and commercial structures. The aim of visit was increasing the possibility of Azerbaijan's agricultural production supplies to Kazakhstan.
Grain supplies to Azerbaijan reached the point in 2004 - about 430.000 tons and it is very interested to both parties from further expansion of cooperation in the given field. Taking into account the fact, parties are going to build grain terminal in Baku for picking up and transshipment of Kazakhstan's grain.
As you remember, there was held in July trilateral meeting with the representatives of transportation authorities from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, where were prepared the proposal on further development of cooperation in the field of transit-transportation sphere. The meeting was held in Baku. There had also been considered the matters about approving of reducing the rates and providing with privileges for different types of cargo, organization of pilot container train Poti-Baku-Aktau-Almaty and reverse direction.
So, today we are witness of an agreement achieved during the visit of the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in Azerbaijan which provides with positive results.
President of Kazakhstan, Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev during his visit to Baku had declared that now BTC project should be called as Aktau-Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, which main steps done on behalf of Ministries and authorities for the Republic of Kazakhstan's connection to stated international corridor?
- As I have already mentioned, presently the negotiation groups of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan continue the elaboration of paper about assistance and supporting of Kazakhstan's oil transportation with using Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Today, the parties achieved significant progress in the given matter.
The carrying out of timely meeting of experts on development of paper is planned in Kazakhstan.
Besides, let's remind that shareholders of BTC pipeline are ENI, TotalFinaElf, Inpex and ConocoPhillips operating in Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian shelf and owing 15% of stocks in BTC Co pipeline.
Moreover, I can state that one of confirmation regarding interesting of Kazakhstan's oil transportation via Azerbaijan is a plan about development of Kazakhstan's coastal infrastructure in the Caspian.
In particular, there will be fulfilled the construction of new Kurik port where is planned the building of oil bulk-oil terminal, shipbuilding and assembling dock, supporting sea base, special oil pipeline.
All above mentioned proves the serious of intention of cooperation with Azerbaijan and other states of the region regarding Kazakh oil transit to world markets.
What are priorities of Kazakhstan's oil export directions and gas in future?
- According to policy of our state's chief Kazakhstan is supporter of multi-vector regarding hydrocarbon transportation.
Today, we successfully fulfill oil transportation via CPC and Atyrau-Samara. The part of oil is supplied by tankers to Azerbaijan and Iran ports.
As I have already informed, Kazakhstan is interested in transit via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan.
Also it is possible to state Atasu-Alashankou oil pipeline and the completion of its construction was being planned to December 2005. At the first stage, there is planned to supply via it up to 10 mln. tons of oil a year and up to 20 mln. tons in future.
Simultaneously, there is realized engineering-technical stage of Kazakhstan's oil transportation to China project. There are elaborated matters regarding our gas export to Georgia.
In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that main criteria defining the variant of Kazakh's hydrocarbon supplying is its economical efficiency.
Azerbaijan model on introduction of Initiative of Clarity in production fields (EITI) was accepted by Kazakhstan, what are perspectives of experience exchange in the given field?
- Regarding stated matter, I can inform that now we are able to speak not only about perspectives but also about real cooperation.
In August of 2005 the President of State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. S.Sharifov visited our republic. There he discussed with the Minister of Energy and mineral Resources of Kazakhstan V.Shkolnik EITI subject.
As you aware, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan have similar tasks on rational, efficiency and clarity using the revenues from producing fields. Of course, in this connection it will be interested to us Azerbaijan experience.
Presently, there was created working group and the representatives from ministries and authorities, deputy body.
Draft of memorandum was prepared among state commission, companies and intergovernmental organizations about mutual understanding of EITI introduction. For signing of stated paper 13 mining companies and 48 oil production companies were selected. Draft memorandum was sent to companies for determination of their position on joining to Initiative that is volunteer.
What about the perspectives of non-energy cooperation? Particularly, Kazakhstan's resources and agricultural production transit via Azerbaijan to Europe?
- Kazakhstan is interested in grain, metals and other product's transit through Azerbaijan. We need the simplification custom-border processes, solving problems with stoppage, providing with low rates and other measures. And the solving of stated processes will create acceptable conditions for transit-transportation of Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan mutual relations and enhance the cooperation in future.
Moreover, Kazakhstan carefully regards to new forms of transit-transportation cooperation with Azerbaijan.
It includes the mutual relations within the frame of "North-South" transport corridor, new railway lines Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku project construction.
Our republic takes measures on improvement of transport sector, construction of new railway lines and automobile ways, sea transport development.
We hope that profitable cooperation with Azerbaijan in transport sphere will be successfully expanded in future too.
Thanks for your interview.