OREANDA-NEWS. May 05, 2008. At the meeting Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, discussed the topics of economy and energy, reported the Official website www.valitsus.ee.

Azerbaijan is undergoing a huge economic growth right now. Last year, the economy grew by 25,4 per cent. The economic growth of the energy sector was 11 per cent. The official unemployment rate in Azerbaijan is only 1,2 per cent.

The state budget of Azerbaijan has increased by 10 times over the past four years, amounting to USD 12 billion this year. At the same time, both countries are disturbed by the high inflation rate. Inflation in Azerbaijan is more than 10 per cent, similar to the rate in Estonia.

At the meeting, the question of energy was also discussed. Azerbaijan is an important oil producer in the Caspian Sea region, and a gas producer of increasing importance. Azerbaijan is also an important energy partner for the European Union, with more than 90 per cent of the export of its energy carriers going to the Union. At the moment, Azerbaijani gas is the only secured supply source for supplying the planned Nabucco gas line (Turkey-Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary-Austria) with gas. Andrus Ansip stated that European Union leaders understand the importance of the Nabucco gas line. Both politicians were of the opinion that the EU should adopt a common energy policy.

The political situation of the Azeris and other countries of the region, their interrelations and relations with the EU were also discussed.

Elmar Maharram oglu Mammadyarov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, is on his first official visit to Estonia as a Minister. Before that, he visited Estonia twenty years ago on his honeymoon with his wife. Yesterday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with Kristiina Ojuland, Deputy Chairman of the Riigikogu, and after meeting with the Prime Minister, Mammadyarov headed to the meeting with Urmas Paet, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia.