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Turan News Agency, Azerbaijan
March 14 2013
Official says UK interested in further oil cooperation with Azerbaijan
Baku, 14 March: The settlement of the Karabakh conflict [between
Armenia and Azerbaijan] depends on the will of both sides while the
international community can support efforts towards this end, said
UK's Permanent Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Simon Fraser at a briefing at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
today. He was commenting on Armenia's plans to open an airport in
Xocali [town in Azerbaijan's breakaway Karabakh].
He said he had discussed this issue in Yerevan as well and believes
that "in this kind of a situation it is necessary to refrain from
actions with unpredictable consequences".
Asked to comment on the opinion of international rights organizations
that the West sacrifices human rights in Azerbaijan to energy
interests, Fraser said that the "UK government has always supported
human rights and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan". He said he had met
local civil society activists.
At the same time, Fraser added that the UK also has other common
interests with Azerbaijan, including in the field of economy.
He said he was aware of the dispersal of the peaceful protest in Baku
[on 10 March] and of the arrest of participants in it.
Fraser even said that he touched on these matters at his meetings with
officials. He immediately added, though, that human rights were not
the only topic of his talks.
Asked about further operation of BP in Azerbaijan upon the expiration
of the contract of the century in 2024 [Azerbaijan signed the oil
contract with foreign companies in 1994], the British diplomat said
that projects involving the corporation had been discussed.
He said BP is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan. He expressed
interest in continuation of this strategic partnership.
Was the topic of reforming election legislation discussed in the
context of the forthcoming presidential election? When answering this
question, Fraser said the topic was discussed but without details of
election legislation.
The UK is for elections to be held in a transparent manner, providing
for freedom of speech and possibilities for citizens to express their
opinion in a non-violent form. "This applies not only to Azerbaijan
but to all countries," Fraser said.
The British diplomat also made a speech to students of the Diplomatic Academy.
[Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation led by
Fraser on 14 March, the website of the Azerbaijani president reported.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral
relations in various areas, noted the importance of cooperation in the
energy sector, stressed the long-term successful operation of BP in
Azerbaijan and gave a positive assessment to the oil industry
transparency. They also exchanged views on prospects for development
of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, the fruitful cooperation
between the two countries in the field of security within the
Euro-Atlantic structures and other issues of mutual interest, the
report said.
Turan on 15 March quoted Fraser as telling journalists that BP is
interested in working in Azerbaijan. "I am sure that BP is trying to
maintain its strategic presence in Azerbaijan. I think that the
Azerbaijani government has the same intention," Fraser said. He added
that BP is among the biggest foreign investors in Azerbaijan, which is
welcomed by the British government. He said that continuation of BP's
work in Azerbaijan was among the issues discussed during his meeting
with Ilham Aliyev, Turan said.]
[Translated from Russian]
March 14 2013
Official says UK interested in further oil cooperation with Azerbaijan
Baku, 14 March: The settlement of the Karabakh conflict [between
Armenia and Azerbaijan] depends on the will of both sides while the
international community can support efforts towards this end, said
UK's Permanent Under Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth
Office Simon Fraser at a briefing at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy
today. He was commenting on Armenia's plans to open an airport in
Xocali [town in Azerbaijan's breakaway Karabakh].
He said he had discussed this issue in Yerevan as well and believes
that "in this kind of a situation it is necessary to refrain from
actions with unpredictable consequences".
Asked to comment on the opinion of international rights organizations
that the West sacrifices human rights in Azerbaijan to energy
interests, Fraser said that the "UK government has always supported
human rights and freedom of speech in Azerbaijan". He said he had met
local civil society activists.
At the same time, Fraser added that the UK also has other common
interests with Azerbaijan, including in the field of economy.
He said he was aware of the dispersal of the peaceful protest in Baku
[on 10 March] and of the arrest of participants in it.
Fraser even said that he touched on these matters at his meetings with
officials. He immediately added, though, that human rights were not
the only topic of his talks.
Asked about further operation of BP in Azerbaijan upon the expiration
of the contract of the century in 2024 [Azerbaijan signed the oil
contract with foreign companies in 1994], the British diplomat said
that projects involving the corporation had been discussed.
He said BP is the largest foreign investor in Azerbaijan. He expressed
interest in continuation of this strategic partnership.
Was the topic of reforming election legislation discussed in the
context of the forthcoming presidential election? When answering this
question, Fraser said the topic was discussed but without details of
election legislation.
The UK is for elections to be held in a transparent manner, providing
for freedom of speech and possibilities for citizens to express their
opinion in a non-violent form. "This applies not only to Azerbaijan
but to all countries," Fraser said.
The British diplomat also made a speech to students of the Diplomatic Academy.
[Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received the delegation led by
Fraser on 14 March, the website of the Azerbaijani president reported.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the development of bilateral
relations in various areas, noted the importance of cooperation in the
energy sector, stressed the long-term successful operation of BP in
Azerbaijan and gave a positive assessment to the oil industry
transparency. They also exchanged views on prospects for development
of relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, the fruitful cooperation
between the two countries in the field of security within the
Euro-Atlantic structures and other issues of mutual interest, the
report said.
Turan on 15 March quoted Fraser as telling journalists that BP is
interested in working in Azerbaijan. "I am sure that BP is trying to
maintain its strategic presence in Azerbaijan. I think that the
Azerbaijani government has the same intention," Fraser said. He added
that BP is among the biggest foreign investors in Azerbaijan, which is
welcomed by the British government. He said that continuation of BP's
work in Azerbaijan was among the issues discussed during his meeting
with Ilham Aliyev, Turan said.]
[Translated from Russian]