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Korean ambassador says, relations between Azerbaijan and Korea are now on an unexpected high level

26 July 2007 11:24 (UTC +04:00)

- How do you value the relations between Azerbaijan and Korea?
- The relations between Azerbaijan and Korea are now on an unexpected level. We did not expect that they will progress so quickly. The visit of our president Mr. Roh Moo-hyun to Azerbaijan last year played an â€œice-breakingâ€ role in our bilateral relations. We had a lot of delegations from Azerbaijan to Korea and from Korea to Azerbaijan; these were both delegations from government agencies and private section. During the visits they saw the possibilities of a new partnership. This year president Ilham Aliyev paid a visit to Korea, and it was very successful.
- The two presidents signed about 30 documents during there last meeting. How are they being implemented now?
- The assignment of the documents showed the political will of the sides, and now of course these documents are being implemented. These are the documents of fundamental moments. Usually it depends on a particular document. Sometimes there is a rapid progress in implementation, and sometimes there is z slow one. Letâ€™s say, the introduction of transportation to Baku is an example of rapid progress, but the building of a shipbuilding factory is a slow progress example.
- Our countries had bilateral days of culture. How do the relations in this sphere develop?
- In 2005 we had days of Korean culture in Azerbaijan. The event was very colorful, there were a lot of art exhibitions, concerts, etc. After that we had an academic symposium at Baku State University last year. Then a Korean dancing group came to Azerbaijan, they performed at Baku comedy theatre. This year we had days of Azerbaijani culture in Korea. About 80 Azeri artists were in Korea.
The level of our relations in culture sphere is rapidly progressing. For example, last year Korean teams â€œSummerloriâ€ (playing national Korean music) and â€œCrossoverâ€ (playing synthesis of national Korean and modern music) were here. They stayed in Azerbaijan for a long time and gave several concerts.
- In Azerbaijani universities there are faculties where our students learn Korean language. Is there any interest to Azerbaijani language in Korea?
- Yes, Korean language is taught at the Azerbaijani University of languages for about ten years. The Azeri students are very interested in Korean language. They are very active. The graduates work at our embassy, at the embassy of Azerbaijan in Korea, and at some Korean companies. The number of Korean companiesâ€™ representative offices in Azerbaijan grows from day to day, so the students can find good jobs.
I do not think there is a big interest to Azerbaijani language in Korea, but I think this situation is going to change, because the relations between Azerbaijan and Korea are progressing.
- Is Korean embassy in Azerbaijan the first one on South Caucasus?
- Yes, it is the first one on South Caucasus. Azerbaijan is the most important country for Korea in the region. But of course we plan to open our embassies in other countries too.
- What is Korean official position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the so called â€œelectionsâ€?
- Well, our position is very clear. We support peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We support the Minsk group work in that sphere, and the UN position. Coming to this so called â€œelectionsâ€ â€“ we donâ€™t have any official position on that issue.
- There was information that Korea and Azerbaijan are going to ease the visa regimeâ€¦
- Yes, we are now working on that process for diplomatic and official passports. We sent a note to Azeri government, and are waiting for an answer now. Then it is possible to discuss the business people passport also.
- What is the trade level between our countries?
- The trade level is very undesirable. According to Korean statistics, in 2006 the export from Korea to Azerbaijan was 47 mln. USD, and the import from Azerbaijan is very small â€“ just 13 000 USD. It does not answer the potential we have. But if we import oil from your country this number will probably increase. To say the truth, one of our companies has already imported Azeri oil in 2006, but this number was not included into the trade level statistics.
- How do you value the development of our relations in oil sector?
- Last year we signed an agreement with your government about the Inam oil field. At the moment we continue our consultations, we are very close now to singing a contract, it is even possible this year, because the consultations are almost finished. Our oil companies will come here for signing the contract.
- Korean government was to grant Azerbaijan to create e-government. At what stage is that project?
- Yes, we signed an agreement about e-government, but this is not about granting, our government will provide software for creating the electronic government. Korea is one of those countries where this structure is very active. It is not yet decided which Korean companies exactly will come here to create the e-government.
- We signed an agreement about cooperating in aviation. On what stage is that project implementation process?
- It has been signed last year. I signed the document together with Mr. Askerov from AZAl, so there is a political will, but airlines companies should come to an agreement, which still is not reached. It is a commercial interest, so there must be an agreement between companies. /APA/