Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan: Serbia strongly supports Azerbaijan, we are planning to exchange students and teachers, organize various exhibitions
03 October 2011 [16:08] - TODAY.AZ
Interview with Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zoran Vajovic.
Mr. Ambassador, Serbian embassy has been opened in Azerbaijan recently. Did you visit Azerbaijan before?
The Serbian embassy was opened in Azerbaijan in March. I arrived in
Baku in May and submitted my credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. I am
happy that our embassy is located in the center of Icherisheher (Old
City of Baku), which was included in the UNESCO’s list. I like this
place. There was no official opening ceremony and we are expected to
hold the ceremony next year. But the embassy is working and we are
planning to open the consular office as well. I visited Baku several
times before. I was working in the Serbian embassy in Turkey, which was
also responsible for the relations with Azerbaijan. I was very happy
while hearing about my appointment to Azerbaijan. I have not been in the
region of Azerbaijan yet, but I believe that your country achieved
fantastic results during 20 years of independence. We can see these
results everywhere – new roads are constructed, large-scale
infrastructure projects are realized, much attention is given to the
construction of social facilities, new oil and gas fields are
discovered, the country increases its currency resources every year and
all of these show how big potential Azerbaijan has.
How do you value the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia?
The bilateral relations between our countries are developing and our
partnership reaches new strategic level. Serbia and Azerbaijan have no
discords in any issue. There is a mutual understanding in the level of
both bilateral and international cooperation. I am very happy that I am
working in the country, which has good political relations with Serbia.
Our countries defend each other in the international arena and within
all international organizations.
Which spheres is Serbia interested to develop cooperation with Azerbaijan in?
Our political relations are at a highest level. A number of mutual
visits were realized in the past year. Serbian President Boris Tadic
visited Azerbaijan in May, 2010 and President Ilham Aliyev visited
Serbia in June, 2011. The meetings between foreign ministers Vuc Jeremic
and Elmar Mammadyarov have regular and intensive character. Serbia is
very interested in the development of economic relations and economic
and trade relations. Unfortunately the level of economic relations is at
odd with the level of political relations.
Serbia-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission is expected to hold
first meeting in Belgrade this autumn. Are the date and agenda of the
meeting scheduled?
The commission’s first meeting will be held on November 3-4, 2011 in
Belgrade. It was agreed during the two-day visit of Vuc Jeremic, who is
co-chair of the commission, to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2011. The first
business forum will also be held in the framework of the meeting. We are
hopeful that the agreement on economic cooperation and some agreements
between the business people will be signed during this forum. Serbia is
interested in involving Azerbaijani investment in its economy.
Azerbaijan is also interested in participation in the infrastructure
projects in Serbia, including the construction of roads and ports. I
consider that the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission will
be an important step toward strengthening the economic cooperation
between the countries. Serbia-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce is functioning in Belgrade. Some
Azerbaijani construction and foreign trade companies have already opened
their offices in Belgrade. Some Serbian construction companies also
have offices in Baku.
Is Serbia interested in improving energy cooperation with Azerbaijan?
Serbia is interested in participating in any energy project that can
pass through its territory. Any pipeline that will pass through the
territory of Serbia may be profitable for our country.
What steps is your embassy going to take in order to develop scientific and cultural relations between our countries?
This issue was also discussed during the visit of Serbian Foreign
Minister Vuk Jeremić to Baku. We are planning to exchange students and
teachers, organize various exhibitions. I would like to arrange the
visit of the Belgrade Philharmonic to Azerbaijan to participate in
Gabala festival. Serbian representatives will also attend the World
Youth Forum that will be held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of
Azerbaijan’s independence.
How is visa for your country granted?
Serbia’s visa policy is liberal enough. Serbia cancelled visa regime
with Turkey, offered to cancel visa regime with Azerbaijan last year. It
would allow the citizens of both countries to travel free and to
develop the bilateral relations in tourism. But visa travel exists
between our countries. By the end of the year we are planning to open a
consular department and issue visas to the Azerbaijani citizens that
will visit Serbia.
How much is trade turnover between our countries?
Unfortunately, the volume of trade turnover is not so big, it does not
coincide with the level of political relations between our countries.
The trade turnover was $ 10 million last year. Trade turnover is based
on agriculture, import of food products. We would like Serbia to join
energy projects. Oil and gas account for the main part of Azerbaijan’s
export, we would like to increase our share of participation in this
field. I am sure that the first meeting of the intergovernmental
commission will give an impetus to the development of trade turnover
between our countries. We are interested in extending energy
cooperation, increase foreign trade deals and export agricultural
products to Azerbaijan. Work continues on the accumulator plant project
of Serbian companies in Azerbaijan. Enhancement of economic relations is
the top priority of the development of bilateral relations and the
embassy is playing an active role in this process by establishing
contacts with the private sector.
What is Serbia’s position in Nagorno Karabakh conflict?
Serbia’s position has not changed. Serbia supports Azerbaijan’s
territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty. The conflict must
be solved peacefully. Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the
occupied territories of Azerbaijan, because all international
organizations, including the four resolutions of the UN confirm the
occupation of Azerbaijan’s territories. Serbia strongly supports
Azerbaijan concerning this issue in the international arena.
We are small countries valuing our independence and object to the double
standard policy in the international relations of the 21st century.
Sometimes, these double standards are also felt in the resolution of
Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Even with the participation of the world’s
leading political players Azerbaijan can not still achieve the victory
of justice, return of the territories and internally displaced persons.
Azerbaijan also supports Serbia in the Kosovo problem. The southern part
of Serbia, Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija unilaterally
declared their independence, Serbia does not accept it.
/APA/
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