A. Merkel touches on human rights issues in Azerbaijan at the meeting with I. Aliyev

Baku/25.08.18 / Turan: Germany is ready to play the role of an intermediary in the settlement of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, said the German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday, August 25, in Baku on the eve of negotiations with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. "Germany would like to help to find a peaceful solution," Reuter agency cited Merkel. She recalled that Berlin is a member of the OSCE Minsk Group, which spearheads the search for peaceful resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Talks between Aliyev and Merkel were held in an expanded format with the participation of delegations from the two countries. Aliyev called the visit "historic" and expressed his conviction that it would give a new impetus to relations. Merkel noted the opportunities for expanding economic relations, stressed that "Azerbaijan in this region is Germany's largest trading partner." At the same time, she also touched upon a human rights issue. "We will probably touch upon some critical moments, and this is human rights and the humanitarian situation," Merkel said. (AZERTAJ). Following the results of the dialogue, the politicians held a joint press conference. The German Chancellor and the President of Azerbaijan stressed the role of the Azerbaijani side in gas supplies to consumers in the European Union. Berlin and Brussels want to diversify their energy market to reduce dependence on "blue fuel" from Russia, Merkel said. "In this regard, the opening of the South Gas (DW) Corridor (SGC) is good news for the EU energy supply," she said, adding that Berlin will be able to strengthen cooperation with Baku in the sphere of energy supply.

Ilham Aliyev, in turn, noted that Azerbaijan is ready to increase the volumes of gas supply to Europe, but did not answer to the question whether supplies of Turkmen gas to Europe through Azerbaijani territory are possible. After agreeing the legal status of the Caspian Sea, such a scenario becomes more realistic, but the issue of dividing the bottom and subsoil remains open. (DW). During the meeting with representatives of the business circles, Merkel noted with satisfaction that Azerbaijan has a German foreign trade chamber, 150 German companies operate here. "As the president noted, other companies are cordially invited to contribute to the economy. We have a great interest in this. Azerbaijan is a secular state. We talked about this. Today, Azerbaijan is a Muslim secular country, despite the fact that today we see trends of the Islamization of many states. These successes are of great importance for the economy of Azerbaijan. Germany can become a good partner for this, " AZERTAJ quoted Merkel.

"Companies from Germany have been working in Azerbaijan for many years, they operate in many areas, implemented various projects. Only at the expense of public funds German companies have implemented projects worth more than $ 1 billion, and I am confident that this figure will grow in the future, "Aliyev stressed. According to the president, German companies are well known in Azerbaijan. "Their quality and technology are of great benefit to our country," the president said. The President expressed hope for the support of German companies in the development of the non-oil sector of the Azerbaijani economy.

During a press conference, one of the foreign journalists asked Aliyev about the arrested journalists - Afgan Mukhtarly and others. Aliyev in reply said that all freedoms are ensured in Azerbaijan, including freedom of the press, and no one is being persecuted for criticism and dissent.

President Ilham Aliyev said that at the meeting of the two leaders all issues were equally important, including human rights and democracy. (https://www.azadliq.org). (https://www.azadliq.org). -06d--