Caspian Energy: Г-н Алиев, какие приоритеты сегодня у  ПО «Азеригаз» в плане проведения газификации на современном уровне?

Генеральный директор ПО «Азеригаз» Руслан Алиев: Разумеется, после этапа газификации, немаловажное значение также имеет продвижение и улучшение сферы услуг. Потому что именно это направление играет решающую роль в сохранении имиджа ПО «Азеригаз». Можно сказать, что многие работы, проводимые азербайджанским государством в области газификации на протяжении многих лет, дают положительные результаты. Когда Производственное Объединение «Азеригаз» стало структурным подразделением SOCAR (2009 год), уровень газификации в стране составлял 62,2%, но в настоящее время этот уровень уже достиг 96%. В то время количество бытовых потребителей, использующих природный газ, составляло 720 000 абонентов. Сегодня количество абонентов среди населения превысило 2,3 миллиона абонентов. С начала 2020 года по 1 октября количество газифицированных поселков составило 8 единиц, а количество новых жилых массивов – 23 единицы. В настоящее время количество населенных пунктов, где ведутся работы по газификации, составляет 35 единиц, а количество жилых массивов – 20 единиц. В целом за последние 11 лет газифицировано и обеспечено природным газом 1634 населенных пункта.

CE: Удалось ли вам придать сети газо­снабжения новый вид после присоединения к структуре ГНКАР/SOCAR? В любом случае, 11 лет -  немалый срок.

Р. Алиев: Несмотря на то, что количество населенных пунктов, подлежащих газификации, сокращается, все более актуальными ста­новятся вопросы обслуживания газовой сети при обслуживании растущего количества абонентов. За последние 11 лет проложено 54 560 км новых газопроводов, произведен капитальный ремонт 10 878 км газопроводов. Это связано с правильным проведением реформ в сфере газификации страны. Только за девять месяцев текущего года протяженность новых газопроводов различного диаметра составила 1105,1 км. Эта эффективная деятельность отражена в принимаемых ежегодно государственных программах, а также в плане мероприятий производственного объединения. Из года в год объем деятельности не уменьшается, а увеличивается.

CE: Один из самых обсуждаемых вопросов - потери газа. Есть ли успехи в этой облас­ти? Что можно сделать, чтобы свести к минимуму потери газа?

Р. Алиев: Одна из главных задач ПО «Азеригаз» - минимизация потерь газа. На фоне 87 613 новых абонентов и увеличения приема газа за 9 месяцев 2020 года потери газа снизились на 0,7% по сравнению с аналогичным периодом прошлого года. Это было достигнуто за счет ежегодных обновлений сети и других проводимых реформ. Следует отметить, что «Стратегическая дорожная карта» в качестве цели установила для ПО «Азеригаз» планку на уровне 8% потерь газа, и в этом году принимаются меры для достижения этой цели.

CE: Вы отметили, что большая часть работы, проводимой в сфере газификации, является частью социальной политики нашей страны. С какими еще моментами вы могли бы нас ознакомить?

Р. Алиев: Как известно, согласно распоряжению Президента Азербайджанской Республики на заседании Тарифного (ценового) совета от 30 апреля 2019 года годовое потребление природного газа по низкому тарифу (10 копеек за кубометр) было увеличено с 1700 кубометров до 2200 кубометров. После этого решения удельный вес абонентов населения, потребляющих природный газ по низким тарифам, вырос с 70% до 85%. Это также важный этап социальной политики. Стоит просто взглянуть на цифры за первые 9 месяцев 2020 года, и можно увидеть, сколько людей воспользовались этим льготным лимитом. Например, по состоянию на 1 октября только 8,27% из 2 303 513 зарегистрированных абонентов превысили льготный лимит в 2200 кубометров, продаваемых по 10 копеек за кубометр в год. Это означает 190 498 абонентов. Остальные 2 113 015 абонентов (91,73% от общей численности населения) использовали газ в пределах льготного лимита.

CE: Может ли обслуживание клиентов принес­ти пользу большому количеству обслуживаемых вами абонентов? Потому что, насколько нам известно, ваш «Колл-центр 104» тоже принимает большое количество звонков в этом районе. В частности, что бы Вы хотели подчеркнуть в обеспечении прозрачности?

Р. Алиев: Интеграция с центрами «ASAN xidmət» и «ASAN Kommunal» в сфере обслуживания клиентов является очень важной для ПО «Азеригаз». Эти центры оказывают услуги 21 наименований, которые рассчитаны на удовлетворение абонентов. В частности, с целью обеспечения прозрачности, работы по новой газификации (проводятся в индивидуальном порядке), по обеспечению технических условий, а также другие работы, когда-то вызывавшие разногласия, осуществляются в вышеназванных центрах.  За 9 месяцев 2020 года количество поступивших обращений составило 188 079. Из них 138 827 приходится на центры «ASAN Kommunal», 262 - на «Asan səyyar», 48 761 - на центры «Asan xidmət» и 229 - на «KOB» Evi (Агентство по развитию малого и среднего бизнеса).

CE: У нас, напоследок, вот какой вопрос: нам известно, что Вы тоже посетили регионы, где азербайджанская армия проводила контр­наступательные операции по освобождению наших оккупированных земель, и интересовались нынешним состоянием газовой отрасли.

Р. Алиев: Мы очень рады, что наша славная армия под руководством Верховного главнокомандующего Азербайджана, Президента Ильхама Алиева одержала победу над армянскими оккупантами. Весь наш коллектив каждый день следил за новостями о победах на линии фронта. Большое количество наших работников сражались на передовой.  А наше объединение с нетерпением ждет начала проведения работ по новой газификации в Шуше, Физули, Агдаме, а также во всех других населенных пунктах, которые освобождены от врагов.

Caspian Energy (CE): Poland occupies a very important geo-economic position in the EU,  what could you say about the current economic platform of the Weimar and Lublin triangles? What functions do they perform in the real economy today and how do they contribute into the growth of GDP?

His Excellency Mateusz Morawiecki, Prime Minister of Poland: The strength of the Weimar and Lublin triangles lays in their member states, also in terms of their economic cooperation and common goals. We do believe that together we can do more. We recognise the further development of economic and social cooperation within these initiatives as key to a better future for Central and Eastern Europe. We have common interests in protecting free trade in the global economy and strengthening the EU’s competitiveness. This results in, for example, the support for reform of competition policy.

CE: The government has recently announced the creation of a large state-owned monopoly through the merger of two oil and gas companies, PKN Orlen and Lotus, is this a step away from the principles of competition and free market declared by the European Commission?

Mateusz Morawiecki: With this merger we are opening the Polish market to the extend beyond general comprehension. The merger will allow Poland to preserve its energy security and assure its transition to a green economy: if we are to achieve the goal of the new recovery plan we must have entities like Orlen after merger that have projects ready to implement. We need that merger to build wind farms and invest in hydrogen. No doubt the combined entity will be able to bear some of the costs of decarbonizing Polish energy. Full coordination of oil purchases, logistics and production will allow agile responses to the dramatically changing market environment. A restructuring of the wholesale fuels market in Poland, especially by facilitating imports and integrating Polish fuels markets with the rest of Europe would not be possible without the transaction.

CE: Which projects are being developed jointly with Azerbaijan and with the countries of the Caspian region?  Which areas of industry do you consider the most promising?

Mateusz Morawiecki: For several years, we have been striving to strengthen economic cooperation with the countries of the Caspian Sea, including Azerbaijan - by tightening or establishing new business contacts. We have proved that despite the geographical distance, close trade and technological cooperation between our countries, as well as closer relations between companies of both countries, are possible. I would like Polish companies to better use the opportunities offered by the Azerbaijani market and vice versa. Polish entrepreneurs from various sectors offer very high quality products that certainly meet the requirements of Azerbaijani consumers and business partners. We look to the future; we try to adapt our economies to the latest developments. Poland, as well as Azerbaijan, is interested in digital transformation and modern agriculture, and we are committed to digitizing our economies.

CE: How does Poland feel about the climate change problem and its impact on the economy of Poland and its partners? Do you think the mankind is capable of solving this problem?

Mateusz Morawiecki: Nowadays, climate change is a serious challenge.  Temperature increase and droughts cause great losses in the Polish agricultural and fruit farming sectors, which are an important segment of Polish production and exports. We believe that we should combat climate change, insofar as it is caused by man. We are pleased that thanks to joint action by EU countries, emissions from electricity generation in the EU fell by a record 12% in 2019, which is 120 million tons. Such initiatives should be taken by all countries, including those responsible for the largest CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, such as China, the USA and India. Undoubtedly, it is often much more difficult for some countries to take such actions than for others. Poland knows this very well, because it inherited from the communist governments an energy mix, which is still largely based on coal. Nevertheless, Poland is currently undergoing an ambitious energy transformation that will allow it to change its energy mix to a low-carbon. We spend, depending on price, around USD 20 bn annually on imports of gas, oil, coal and energy. We want to be as independent as possible of such imports.

CE: Why do you veto the Nord Stream 2 project, isn’t Poland striving to replace coal, the main fuel element of the economy, with gas? Don’t you think this decision is more political than economic?

Mateusz Morawiecki: It needs to be clarified that Nord Stream 2 is a political tool to disrupt European solidarity and that strikes at the value of the European Union. We are glad that more and more countries are aware of the danger that the project entails. The EU’s reports indicate that Nord Stream 2 increases the Union’s dependence on Russian gas, threatens the EU internal market and is not in line with the EU’s energy policy, therefore this project should be suspended. Our American partners have also recognised this threat by imposing sanctions on Nord Stream 2. Being against that initiative doesn’t mean that Poland is passive when it comes to defending the free gas market in the region. We are currently focusing on the Baltic Pipe as a strategic gas infrastructure project to provide a new gas supply corridor on the European market. It will enable to transmit gas from Norway to the Danish and Polish markets, and the neighbouring countries. Soon, the tender procedure for the contractor of the Baltic Pipe section will be completed. The finalisation of the project is planned by October 2022. The annual capacity of the gas pipeline will be 10 billion cubic meters gas from deposits on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

CE: The first consignments of gas will reach Europe early in 2021 along the Southern Gas Corridor pipeline laid from Azerbaijan to Turkey, Greece and further to Europe. Can Poland join this project and become one of the Eastern European gas hubs?

Mateusz Morawiecki:  The crisis in relations with Russia over Ukraine has made Southern Gas Corridor more important for Poland and the EU. We see the corridor as an opportunity for a genuine diversification of gas supplies and for strengthening its position in dealing with Russia. Strategic investments in infrastructure and diversification of gas sources may constitute a recipe for ensuring energy security of Poland and the region. Poland is already becoming a gas hub. We are also consistently implementing the plan to expand the natural gas entry points to the national system. Therefore, in addition to the expansion of the LNG terminal and the construction of the Baltic Pipe gas pipeline in 2024-2025, we plan to launch a floating liquefied gas receiving terminal (FSRU) in Gdańsk. Poland is getting an important energy hub for its neighbours.

CE: Which other projects are being developed for the gradual withdrawal of the Silesia economy from coal extraction?

Mateusz Morawiecki: Between 1990 and 2017, the consumption of hard coal in Poland decreased by 56%. However, the process of moving away from coal cannot be carried out at the expense of Polish entrepreneurs, mine workers or citizens, it cannot lead to energy poverty, therefore this process requires time and appropriate strategic preparation. We implement projects that will help diversifying the Polish national power generation structure.

CE: Which measures are taken to increase the LNG import? Which countries are the most active suppliers?

Mateusz Morawiecki: LNG Terminal in Świnoujście has regasification capacity of 5 billion cubic meters per year. We plan to expand the gas terminal to the level of 7.5 billion cubic meters. Such an investment would be completed in 2021. Currently, the terminal’s capabilities are used in approx. 60%. So far gas supply contracts were signed with Qatar and American companies. The terminal in Świnoujście also received gas purchased under the so-called spot contracts. These are contracts for small volumes of supply, concluded instantly for the so-called spot market. Thanks to this, it is possible to make an immediate purchase of even one LNG transport, when necessary. So far, gas reaching Poland from the spot market has come from the USA and Norway.

Thank you for the interview

The completion of the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline construction in October 2020 drew a final line under the implementation of the Southern Gas Corridor project which is of strategic and economic importance for the whole of Europe. Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey have connected the gas-rich Caspian Sea to the European market with reliable pipeline infrastructure.

Azerbaijan is becoming one of the traditional European suppliers – Russia, Norway, Algeria, Qatar, and the United States. The SGC fully complies with all the conditions of the EU’s third energy package and is a new diversified source that meets the environmental aspirations for decarbonisation, shift towards clean fuels and zero emissions by 2050. TAP is filled with natural gas from the Greek-Turkish border to the receiving terminal in southern Italy. Despite the readiness of the pipeline and the entire system for launch, TAP asked and received from the Italian regulator another exception from the rules, according to which it can postpone the first supplies until December 2021. The Italian regulator ARERA reported that the main reason for granting a delay was the pandemic of a new coronavirus, whose consequences are impossible to predict. In response, the TAP spokesperson said that the quarantine does not affect the project’s launch date in October 2020, S&P Global Platts noted. If this happens, this will be the third deferral that the project gets.

France, Great Britain, Spain and Portugal, as well as the countries of south-eastern Europe can now access the Caspian gas via the European networks, despite the fact that the TAP route ends in Italy. TAP’s landfall in Italy opens up many opportunities for further transportation of Caspian gas to wider European markets.

The connection point between TAP and the Snam Rete Gas natural gas transportation system in Apulia, Italy, is expected to be completed and ready for gas transportation by mid-November 2020.

TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field, located in the Azeri sector of the Caspian Sea, to Europe. The 878 km long pipeline links to the Trans-Anatolian pipeline (TANAP) at the Turkish-Greek border in Kipoi, crosses Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, and then comes ashore in southern Italy.

Key milestones of SGC

• 25 October 2011, Izmir  - Azerbaijan and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding on creating a consortium for the construction of a gas pipeline to supply gas from Shah Deniz field to Europe via the Turkish territory.  The document was signed by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of Turkey and the Ministry of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan. The consortium will consist of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), Turkish BOTAS and TPAO.

• 26 June 2012, Istanbul - An agreement was signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on the sale of natural gas to Turkey, transit of Azerbaijani gas through Turkey, and construction of an independent Trans Anatolian pipeline to transport natural gas through Turkey.

The carrying capacity of the new gas pipeline at the first stage will be 16 bcm: 10 billion - for Europe and 6 billion cubic meters - to Turkey. In the future, it is possible to increase the capacity to 37 billion cubic meters. The width of the corridor will be 22 meters, and the total length of the TANAP pipeline, according to initial estimates, is 1,700km.

Participation interest in the project is as follows: SOCAR – 80%, the rest 20% belong to BOTAS and TPAO. The project was scheduled to be launched in 2016-2017.

• 27 November 2012 - President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Law on ratification of the Agreement signed between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkey for the sale of natural gas to Turkey, transit of Azerbaijani gas through Turkey and construction of an independent pipeline to transport natural gas through Turkey. 

• 17 January 2013 - Turkey’s President Abdullah Gul approved an intergovernmental agreement on the implementation of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline project.

A. Gul approved the Azerbaijan-Turkey agreement on the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline system and its amendments, including the agreement between the government of Turkey and the Trans Anatolian Gas Pipeline Company B. V.

• 18 January 2013 - President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Law approving the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on the Trans Anatolian gas pipeline system”.

• 13 February 2013 - a trilateral Greek-Albanian-Italian intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP) was signed in Athens. The pipeline’s capacity will make from 10 to 20 billion cubic meters per year.

The project shareholders are the Swiss company EGL (42.5%), Norwegian Statoil (42.5%) and German E.ON Ruhrgas (15%).

It is planned that the gas pipeline will run from the Greek city of Komotini to Albania, and then along the bottom of the Adriatic Sea toward the Italian port of Brindisi.

• 19 March 2013 - The Cabinet of Ministers of Turkey approved an intergovernmental agreement with Azerbaijan on the sale, purchase, transit tariffs and transit of natural gas through Turkey, as well as an intergovernmental agreement on the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline system (TANAP).

• 27 March 2013 - The Albanian Parliament ratified the agreement on the construction of the Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP), which was signed in Athens on February 13 this year. The construction of the pipeline through the Republic will bring investments worth about $2 billion to the country.

• 8 April 2013 – At the meeting of the World Economic Forum hosted in Baku, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that the Trans Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) would play a major role in ensuring Europe’s energy security for at least 100 years.  

• 27 July 2013 - As part of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP) project, a prequalification tender was announced for the production and supply of pipes with external and internal coatings.

• 19 September 2013 -   Agreements were signed with European gas buyers as part of the second stage of development of Shah Deniz gas condensate field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

The volume of revenues from contracts signed in Baku for the supply of around 300 bcm of Azerbaijani gas from Shah Deniz field to Europe will amount to about $200 billion.

In particular, Germany’s E. ON will purchase 40 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas under a 25-year contract. Gas supplies will start no earlier than 2019. 

According to the French GDF SUEZ, the company entered into the contract for 2.6 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas per year.

Spanish Gas Natural Fenosa will receive 1 billion cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas annually, according to the company.

The Italian company Hera will receive 300 million cubic meters of Azerbaijani gas annually as part of the signed supply agreement.

• 4 November 2013 - The consortium of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline construction project (TANAP) started selecting land for the construction of this pipeline.

• 2 December - The Parliament of Greece ratified the agreement signed in June 2013 between the TAP (Trans-Adriatic pipeline) and the government of Greece as the host country. The agreement sets the standards within which the project will be implemented. This includes land acquisition, technical, environmental and safety standards.

• 5 December 2013 - The Italian Parliament ratified the trilateral intergovernmental agreement (IGA) signed between Italy, Greece and Albania on February 13, 2013 as part of the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline (TAP).

• 16 May 2013 - TAP was granted exemptions from the requirements of the EU energy regulator. As is known, the third energy package of the European Union came into force in 2009, which prohibited gas market participants to perform gas transportation. However, an exception was made for the Trans-Adriatic pipeline at the request of shareholders. On September 7, 2011, Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP AG) submitted its «Third Party Access Exemption» applications in all three host countries. The exemption will let TAP AG enter into long-term «transport or pay» gas transport agreements with shippers of Shah Deniz II gas.

• 7 January 2014 - The Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP) and ICGB, the company involved in the development, financing and construction of the Greece-Bulgaria gas interconnector (ICGB), signed a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation.

The Memorandum will allow companies to cooperate in determining the connection point of pipelines in the immediate vicinity of Komotini (Greece)

Creation of the necessary infrastructure will allow the start of gas supplies through the Bulgarian gas network to the regions of South-East Europe.

The TAP project is designed to transport gas from the Caspian region through Greece, Albania and across the Adriatic Sea to southern Italy and further to Western Europe.

• 10 February 2014 - Foreign Affairs Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov stated at the press conference, held in Bagdad, that Azerbaijan had offered Iraq an access  to the Southern Gas Corridor linking the Caspian Sea with the EU so that to help Iraq in gas deliveries to Europe.

«Any other countries that have already expressed interest, including Iraq, can also join the Southern Gas Corridor project if they want, and we are ready to start negotiations», Mammadyarov said.

• 10 April 2014 - The consortium for the development of the Trans-Adriatic pipeline (TAP) project received permission to build the Albanian section of the pipeline. 

 The permit was issued by the national territorial Council of Albania, headed by Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Construction work in Albania will begin in 2015 with the modernization and construction of access roads and bridges. Next, the pipeline will be laid and other facilities related to the gas transportation infrastructure will be built.

• April 2014 - For the period of 2014-2020, the European Commission approved the program on construction of gas pipelines, including those between Spain and France which expect to receive gas from the Southern Gas Corridor. The EU financing for energy infrastructure under the Connecting Europe Facility is €5.85 billion that will be spent on funding for 248 cross-border projects by 2020. These projects will benefit from accelerated planning and approval procedures for a maximum of three years, as well as from effective environmental risk assessment procedures. It will let Europe increase gas supplies from Azerbaijan and start export from Turkmenistan and Iran (if sanctions are lifted).

• 24 July 2014 - SOCAR created two companies within the Southern Gas Corridor project. Both companies (SOCAR Upstream Management International and SOCAR Midstream Operations) are located in the central office of SOCAR and have 1 thousand manats of authorized capital each.

• 28 August 2014 - A $1 billion loan agreement was signed as part of the financing of the acquisition by TPAO of a 10% stake of the French company TOTAL in Shah Deniz project. 

• 10 September 2014 – President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a Decree “on measures to be taken to more effectively organize the process of obtaining rights to land plots and other real estate objects in connection with the South Caucasus pipeline expansion project”.

• 20 September 2014 – The Southern Gas Corridor foundation laying ceremony took place. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Greece Antonis Samaras, President of Bulgaria Rosen Plevneliev and other participants of the ceremony signed on the first pipe to be laid into the foundation of the Southern Gas Corridor.

• 3 February 2015 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared about big hopes that Germany rests on the implementation of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline

• 3 March 2016 - European Commission approved construction of Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline.

• Construction of the gas pipeline started in May of the same year.

• In 2016, the Asian Development Bank and the Azerbaijani Government signed an agreement on allocation of a $600 million loan for the second stage of development of Shah Deniz gas field.

• On January 16, 2017, the World Bank, following on from the loan and guarantee agreement, allocated $400 million to Azerbaijan for a 30-year term. The World Bank allocated a similar loan to Turkey; the loans are intended for the construction of the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline. In October of the same year, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development provided a $500 million loan for the construction of the TANAP gas pipeline.

• In February 2018, the EBRD once again announced allocation of a loan in the amount of 60 million Euro under the Southern Gas Corridor project. The loan was meant for the construction of the BRUA gas pipeline (Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Austria).

• In March 2018, the governments of Azerbaijan and Germany agreed on a $1.5 billion loan guarantee to finance the Southern Gas Corridor.  The European Investment Bank also announced allocation of a loan worth 932 million Euro for the construction of the TANAP gas pipeline. 

• Following the commissioning of the Trans Anatolian gas pipeline in Turkey on June 12,  in October  2018 Italy allowed the construction of the TAP gas pipeline for Azerbaijani gas supplies.

• On May 20, 2020, as part of the test launch of the Trans-Adriatic pipeline, the first consignment of gas from Azerbaijan reached the territory of Albania.

As is known, in 1989-1993 Armenia occupied Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding territories of Lachin, Kalbajar, Gubadli, Zangilan, Jabrayil, Fizuli-Agdam (the district center and much of the territory) and Fizuli (the district center and much of the territory) administrative districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Nowadays, issues concerning the restoration of economic activities, economy, water balance, agriculture, industry and tourism are at the forefront of the agenda. President Ilham Aliyev ordered to create a temporary special administration in Karabakh, as well as work out a general plan to rebuild the infrastructure of the cities and villages razed to the ground over the 30-year occupation. 

Special temporary administrations assigned to the  territories freed from occupation will be engaged in protecting significant facilities of transport and telecommunication infrastructure, energy and water supply systems, reservoirs, sources of increased danger to people and the environment. They will also organize protection of public order and security, carry out search, collection and inventory of weapons, ammunition and military equipment. In cooperation with the government agencies, special commandant’s offices shall arrange mine-clearing and prevent diversion and terrorism attempts. The ministries of emergency situations, energy, agriculture, transport and others were ordered to assess the status of sectors they are in charge of and prepare plans for their development in the retaken districts.

Natural resources potential

Azerbaijan regained control over a 198km long section of the state border with Iran, stretching from Horadiz settlement to the border of Zangilan district, and over a 360km long section of Azerbaijan-Armenia state border (558km in total). There had been natural monuments, rare plants and animal species widespread in the occupied region before the occupation. The occupied mountainous zone of the Lesser Caucasus is a large forest area of Azerbaijan. The total forest area of the region was 246.7 thousand hectares, it became extinct as well.

A number of nature reserves were created in order to protect the natural landscape, the world of rare plants and animals on the territories of the Minor Caucasus. Noteworthy here are the Besitchay reserve, Lachin reserve and others. Besitchay reserve was created in 1974 in the south-west of Azerbaijan, on the now-liberated territory of Zangilan, in the valley of the Besitchay River. The area of the reserve is 107 hectares. The protected object here is the eastern plane tree. The plane-tree grove stretches along the river for a distance of 12 km. The existing trees are up to 500 years old. The territories are rich in subsoil and surface natural resources. The most widespread minerals are non–ferrous metal ores, gold, mercury, chromite, perlite, lime, marble, agate, mineral waters, and others. The territory also has a wide resort and recreational potential.

The below given table provides a list of mineral deposits located in the territories of the Azerbaijan Republic districts, plundered by Armenians.

Long-awaited peace and stability have come to the South Caucasus and the entire Caspian-Black Sea region.

The statement (adopted in the night from November 9 to November 10) signed by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia and President of the Russian Federation, i.e. Ilham Aliyev, Nikol Pashinyan and Vladimir Putin respectively, put an end to the occupation of 20% of the territory of Azerbaijan and brought long-awaited peace to the land of Karabakh and seven surrounding districts of Azerbaijan under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham. H. Aliyev.

After heavy and bloody battles, the heroes of Azerbaijan restored the country’s honor, dignity and pride at the expense of their lives by returning the cultural capital - the city of SHUSHA.

After 30 years of provocations, ethnic cleansing, man-made disasters, devastation, destruction of forests, desolation, looting and complete abandonment, the land has finally got a chance for a second wind and a new life that will be restored and rebuilt.

The text of the historical statement and the key dates of the counter-attack operation performed by the armed forces are published below.

We, President of the Azerbaijan Republic  I.H. Aliyev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia N.V. Pashinyan and President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin declare the following:

1. A complete ceasefire and a cessation of all military activities in the zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict shall be introduced at 00:00 hours Moscow time on 10 November 2020. The Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, hereinafter referred to as the Parties, shall stop at their current positions.

2. Aghdam district shall be returned to the Republic of Azerbaijan before 20 November 2020.

3. Along the contact line in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor, a peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed in the amount of 1,960 military personnel with small arms, 90 armored personnel carriers, 380 units of automobile and special equipment.

4. The peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed in parallel with the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces. The peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation shall be deployed for a period of five years with automatic extension by further five-year periods if none of the Parties declares six months before the expiration of the period of its intention to terminate the application of this provision.

5. In order to increase the effectiveness of control over the implementation of the agreements by the Parties to the conflict, a peacekeeping center shall be deployed to exercise control over the ceasefire.

6. The Republic of Armenia shall return Kalbajar district to the Republic of Azerbaijan before 15 November 2020 and Lachin district before 1 December 2020. The Lachin corridor (5km wide), which shall provide a connection of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia and shall not affect the city of Shusha, will stay under control of the peacekeeping contingent of the Russian Federation.

By agreement of the Parties, a plan for the construction of a new route along the Lachin corridor shall be determined in the next three years, providing communication between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia, with subsequent redeployment of the Russian peacekeeping contingent to protect this route.

The Republic of Azerbaijan shall guarantee the safety of citizens, vehicles and goods traveling along the Lachin corridor in both directions.

7. Internally displaced persons and refugees shall return to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent districts under the control of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

8. The exchange of prisoners of war and other detainees and bodies of the dead shall be carried out.

9. All economic and transport links in the region shall be restored. The Republic of Armenia guarantees the safety of transport links between the western regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic in order to organize unhindered movement of citizens, vehicles and goods in both directions. Control over transport shall be exercised by the bodies of the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia.

By agreement of the Parties, the construction of new transport communications linking the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the western regions of Azerbaijan shall be provided.

27 September-10 November military operations. Key dates

As the result of the successful counter-attack operation launched by the Azerbaijani army in Karabakh on September 27, five cities, three settlements and more than 215 villages were liberated from occupation before November 8.

To date, the city of Jabrayil and 79 villages of the district, Fizuli city and 36 villages of the district, Zangilan city, Minjivan and Agbend settlements, and 47 villages of the district, Hadrut settlement and 22 villages of Khojavend district, 3 villages of Terter district, Gubadli city and 26 villages of Gubadli district, 2 villages of Khojaly district, Shusha city, as well as strategic heights in Agdara and Murovdag directions have been liberated.

Azertag has presented a list of liberated cities, settlements and villages of Azerbaijan.

September 27

Garakhanbeyli, Gervend, Goradiz kend, Yukhary Abdurrahmanli villages of Fizuli district;  Boyuk Marjanli and Nyuzger villages of Jabrayil district; heights in Agdara and Murovdag directions.

October 3

Talish and Sugovushan villages of Terter district; Mehdili, Chakhirli, Ashaghi Maralyan, Shaybay, Guyjag villages of Jabrayil district; Ashaghi Abdurrahmanli village of Fizuli district.

October 4

Jabrayil city and Karhulu, Shukurbeyli, Yukhary Maralyan, Chereken, Dashkesan, Khorovlu, Dedjal, Mahmudlu, Jafarabad villages of Jabrayil district.

October 5

Shikheli Agali, Sarijali, Mezre villages of Jabrayil district.

October 9

Hadrut town and Sur village of Khojavend district; Garajalli, Suleymanli, Efendiler and Gishlag villages of Jabrayil district; Yukhary Gyuzlek, Gorazilli villages of Fizuli district; Chayli village of Terter district.

October 14

Garadaghly, Khatunbulag, Garakollu villages of Fizuli district; Bulutan, Melikjanli, Kemertuk, Teke, Tagaser villages of Khojavend district.

October 15

Edisha, Dudukchu, Edilli, Chiraguz villages of Khojavend district; Arish village of Fizuli district; Doshulu village of Jabrayil distrcit.

October 16

Khirmanjig, Agbulag, Akhullu villages of Khojavend district.

October 17

Gochahmadli, Chimen, Juvarli, Pirahmadli, Musabeyli, Ishigli, Dedeli villages of Fizuli district and the city of Fizuli.

October 18

The Azerbaijani flag was hoisted over the Khudaferin bridge.

October 19

Soltanli, Amirvarli, Mashanli, Hesenli, Alikeykhanly, Gumlag, Hajili, Goyerchinveyselli, Niyazgullar, Kechal Mammadli, Shakhvelli, Haji Ismayilli, Isagli villages of Jabrayil district.

October 20

Khavali, Zerneli, Mammadbeyli, Khekeri, Sharifan, Mughanli villages of Zangilan district and the city of Zangilan; Derdchinar, Kurdler, Yukhary Abdurrahmanli, Gargabazar, Ashagi Veyselli, Yukhary Aybasanli villages of Fizuli district; Sarafsha, Gasangaydi, Fuganli, Imambaghy, Dash Veyselli, Agtepe, Yarahmadli villages of Jabrayil district; Agjakend, Mulkudere, Dashbashi, Guneshli (Norashen), Chinarli (Veng) villages of Khojavend district.

October 21

Mindjivan settlement, Khurama, Khumarli, Saril, Babayli, Uchunju Agali, Hajali, Girag Mushlan, Udgun, Turabad, Icheri Myushlan, Melikli, Jahangirbeyli, Bakharli villages of Zangilan district; Balyand, Papi, Tulus, Hajili, Tinli villages of Jabrayil district; Gejegezlu, Ashagi Seidahmadli, Zerger villages of Fizuli district. 

October 22

Kollugishlaq, Malatkeshin, Zangilan kend, Genlik, Veligulubeyli, Garadere, Chopedere, Tatar, Tiri, Emirkhanli, Gargulu, Bartaz, Dellekli villages and Agbend settlement of Zangilan district; Sirik, Shikhlar, Mastalibeyli, Derzili villages of Jabrayil district; Mollaveli, Yukhary Refedinli, Ashaghi Refedinli villages of Fizuli district.

October 23

Dolanlar, Bunyadli villages of Khojavend district; Dag Tumas, Nyusus, Khalafli, Minbashili, Veyselli villages of Jabrayil distrct; Venedli and Mirzahasenli villages of Zangilan district; Zilanli, Kurd Mahrizli, Muganli and Alagurshak villages of Gubadli district.

October 25-26

Birinji Alibeyli, Ikinji Alibeyli, Rebend, Yenikend villages of Zangilan district; Govshudlu, Sofulu, Dag Mashanli, Kurdler, Khovsulu, Chelebiler villages of Jabrayil district; Padar, Efendiler, Yusifbeyli, Chaytumas, Khanliq, Sariyatag, Mollabyurkhan villages of Gubadli district and the city of Gubadli.

October 28

Birinji Agali, Ikinji Agali, Uchunju Agal, Zerneli villages of Zangilan district; Mandily village of Fizuli district; Gazanzemi, Khanagabulag, Chullu, Gushchular, Garaagaj villages of Jabrayil district;  Giyasli, Abilja, Gilijan villages of Gubadly district.

October 30

Khudaverdi, Gurbantepe, Shakhveledli, Khubyarli villages of Jabrayil district; Aladin, Vejneli villages of Zangilan district; Kadvadig, Memer, Mollali villages of Gubadli district.

November 2

Chapran, Haji Isagli, Gosha Bulag villages of Jabrayil district; Dere Gilatag, Beyuk Gilatag villages of Zangilan district; Muradkhanly, Milanli villages of Gubadli district.

November 4

Mirek, Kavdar villages of Jabrayil district; Meshidiismayilly, Shafibeyli villages of Zangilan district; Basharat, Garakishiler, Garajally villages of Gubadli district.

November 7

Yukhary Veyselli, Yukhary Seidahmadli, Gorgan, Uchunju Makhmudlu, Gadjar, Divanalilar villages of Fizuli district; Yukhary Mezre, Yanarkhaj villages of Jabrayil district; Gazyan, Balasoltanli, Mardanli villages of Gubadli district; Beshdeli village of Zangilan district; Atagut, Tsakuri villages of Khojavend district; Garabulag, Moshkhmaat villages of Khojavend district.

November 8

The heroic troops of Azerbaijan took the city of Shusha after heavy fighting in a rocky mountain area. Control of Shusha, the highest point in Karabakh, means a radical change in the war. Khankendi is located at its foot, and a transport artery - Goris-Lachin-Shusha-Khankendi motor road - passes through Shusha.

В рамках 10-го заседания Совместной комиссии по экономическому сотрудничеству между правительствами Азербайджана и Венгрии в Баку состоялся азербайджано-венгерский бизнес-форум, организованный Агентством по поощрению экспорта и инвестиций - AZPROMO и Венгерским агентством по продвижению экспорта (HEPA).

Как передает Caspian Energy Media со ссылкой на AZPROMO, на бизнес форуме состоялись двусторонние встречи между бизнесменами, были проведены обсуждения по расширению партнерства.

Organized by the Export and Investment Promotion Agency - AZPROMO and the Hungarian Export Promotion Agency (HEPA), the Azerbaijani-Hungarian business forum was held in Baku as part of the 10th meeting of the Azerbaijani-Hungarian Joint Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation, Caspian Energy Media reports with reference to AZPROMO.

Bilateral meetings between business and discussions over partnership expansion were held at the business forum.

Read more at https://azpromo.az/az/posts/1728/azerbaycan-macaristan-biznes-forumu-kecirilib

25 апреля парламентская делегация во главе с председателем Милли Меджлиса Азербайджанской Республики Сахибой Гафаровой отправилась с официальным визитом в Республику Монтенегро. Об этом передает CaspianEnergyMedia со ссылкой на официальный сайт Милли Меджлиса.

В рамках визита председатель Милли Меджлиса Сахиба Гафарова проведет ряд встреч.

The parliamentary delegation led by Speaker of Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan Sahiba Gafarova arrived in the Republic of Montenegro on an official visit on 25 April, Caspian Energy Media reports with reference to the official website of Milli Majlis.

Milli Majlis Speaker Sahiba Gafarova will hold a number of meetings in the framework of the visit.

Read more at https://www.meclis.gov.az/news.php?id=5472&lang=az

Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, arrived in Germany from the city of Fuzuli on a working visit on April 25 at the invitation of the Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, to participate in the High Level Segment of the 15th Petersberg Climate Dialogue, Caspian Energy Media reports with reference to the official website of the President of Azerbaijan.

A guard of honor was lined up in honor of the head of state at Airport Berlin Brandenburg "Willy Brandt".