Azerbaijani FM: Country interested in Belarusian energy market

"We [Azerbaijan] always stand for diversifying the energy partners in our policy. When we came out the Mediterranean Sea with the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, it was the first phase of our energy options. First we went to the Black Sea, then the Mediterranean. There are many interesting projects for entering the Baltic Sea in this context. There are many possibilities how to implement it. Naturally, we are interested in Belarus, which is located in the middle of the route between the Black and Baltic Seas. But, the question first should be viewed from the standpoint of commerce. Commercial component was very important for cooperation in the field of assembly of tractors, combines, and buses. Commercial issues in the energy component of the bilateral relations are also very important," Mammadyarov said.

Assessing the nature of the Belarus- Azerbaijan relations, Mammadyarov noted the steady strengthening of contacts between the countries. "The Belarus-Azerbaijan relations between are relations of two self-sufficient states that sufficient in the context of understanding the role and importance of independent states in the international system. We have rather intense contacts between presidents and foreign ministers. We actively conduct political consultation and check positions on many international issues through the foreign ministries. We are very pleased that the intergovernmental commission, in which all relevant ministries and agencies have their counterparts in Belarus, as well as the Belarusian side, has its partners here, intensively works. The trade turnover between our two countries has increased in many times over the past three years and we talk about the hundreds of millions of dollars and all this is based on the legal framework, as when it's all fixed not only by commercial agreements, but also political and humanitarian agreements. This is a major contribution to that the relations between our countries have developed and deepened," he said.

Mammadyarov also believes in the continuity of political and economic aspects in the relations between the countries. "As we've been taught before, politics is the concentrated expression of economics. These are two complementary aspects. If we talk about the economic potential of the two countries, increasing trade, development of joint ventures and branches, then it includes a lot of directions: There are representations of Belarus in Azerbaijan and assembly shop. You have ambitious plans as to go to third countries using the area of Azerbaijan, as well as Azerbaijan has a very big interest in joining the Belarusian market, and this is done. When we speak of interdependence, we understand that the economy can not exist outside policy, and if there is a close relation at the political level, the business feels calmer. At the same time, the economic component of bilateral relations gives the dynamics to the political connections," Mammadyarov said.

Regarding the "Eastern Partnership" project, he said Azerbaijan advocated for the development of good neighborly relations with all countries from the early beginning. "In general, we consider the Eastern Partnership as a way into a good institute which can give us an opportunity to get close not only with the member countries of the project, but also to establish relationships with the European Union." Eastern Partnership "is a good tool to bring living standards in Azerbaijan towards European standards. We understand that very much needs to be done to go to the European standards in all areas - from policy issues, democratization of the country and ending with social issues: the construction and development of infrastructure and education, (for example; Azerbaijan joined the Bologna Process) development of standards of production, whether agricultural or industrial products," Mammadyarov noted.

Mammadyarov spoke about what is useful to his country in participation in the "Eastern Partnership". "European Neighborhood gives an understanding that we should not reinvent the wheel, but need to take those standards that are applied in European countries and try to introduce them to the maximum in the Azerbaijani economy and everyday life. Here we are interested in an experience of countries that are members of the Eastern Partnership, including Belarus. We are just at the beginning. There are several ideas being discussed in Brussels: visa issues and youth policy. We understand that in today's world the concept of "closed borders" is already quite outdated. Here we are ready and open for work. While I can not say that there is specifics in this direction, but if we move further and intensify this process, it will give us the opportunity to build a very good relationship with EU," Mammadyarov said.


/Trend/