The speaker discussed the role of his country as an alternative energy source to Russia and the Middle East for Western Europe and explained that the financial resources that have become available have been used, among others, to rebuild Azerbaijan’s aging Soviet-era road infrastructure and schools. Azerbaijan believes in investing in the education of its youth, so that they will have the skills to take the country’s success forward, even when the finite energy resources are no longer available. Download the Powerpoint presentation below for full details.

The Azerbaijan embassy in Pretoria, a new diplomatic member of SAIIA, is one of the 50 new embassies Mr. Abdullayev's country is opening, and the only one in Sub-Saharan Africa. He will take back to Baku the positive impressions he has formed of South Africa’s development and potential, believing that his government made the right choice in opening the embassy in this country.   

You can read an analysis of the event, by SAIIA research associate Tom Wheeler, in The New Age.

Mr. Abdullayev also addressed a meeting of the Western Cape branch of SAIIA in Cape Town on 30 October. Media coverage of his speech on that occasion can be accessed at the links below:

• Spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry delivers lectures in SAR, News.Az, 30 October 2012
• Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry spokesman gives lecture in South Africa, Trend, 30 October 2012