President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has today received heads of Customs Services of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Chairman of the Executive Committee - Executive Secretary of CIS Sergei Lebedev who are in Azerbaijan to attend the 65th meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his hope that the 65th meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states will feature fruitful discussions and that relevant decisions will be adopted. The head of state hailed the fact that the meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states is held in Baku. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized an important role of customs services in the development of countries, including in ensuring budget revenues and general economic development dynamics. The head of state said serious reforms have been carried out in the field of customs in Azerbaijan in the past years. President Ilham Aliyev noted that despite a slight decline in trade, the effective implementation of these reforms allowed to improve the collection of customs duties. The President underlined the significance of bilateral experience exchange. The head of state said Azerbaijan attaches importance to cooperation in all areas within CIS, adding that the country hosts numerous events of the organization. President Ilham Aliyev wished the 65th meeting of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of CIS member states success.

On behalf of participants, head of the Russian Federal Customs Service Vladimir Bulavin thanked the head of state for the opportunity to hold another meeting of the Council in Baku. Describing the organization of the 65th meeting of the Council in Baku as a remarkable event, he expressed his confidence that the gathering and mutual understanding among heads of Customs Services of CIS member states will contribute to fruitful information exchange. Vladimir Bulavin hailed information exchange among CIS member states in the field of customs. He said such events pave the way for discussion of the issues relating to customs clearance and customs control.

Chairman of the Executive Committee - Executive Secretary of CIS Sergei Lebedev thanked the head of state for high-level organization of the 65th meeting of the Council and noted that Azerbaijan has successfully hosted several important events within the CIS. Sergei Lebedev said that during his visit he saw that Baku has become more beautiful, adding that this made a deep impression on him.

AZERTAC