Domestic

- How will the official visit of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev influence the relationship between out countries?
- I still remember the very warm and friendly atmosphere of my visit to Azerbaijan last June when we established an open and constructive dialogue with the President of your country. It will be a great pleasure and honor to meet Mr. Aliev in Vilnius this September. I am sure that this historical visit – as it is the first visit of Azerbaijan’s President to Lithuania – will serve as yet another opportunity for discussing the concrete elements of our bilateral cooperation, which has already gained rapid acceleration.
Indeed, we may note with satisfaction a very active and successful development of Lithuanian-Azeri relations during the recent years. Historical ties between our two nations have existed over centuries. We have strong social and cultural links and we share a good-fellowship feeling between the Lithuanian and Azeri nations, which creates excellent pre-conditions for the development of bilateral relations. We strongly support Azerbaijan’s European orientation, the institutionalization of Azerbaijan’s relations with the EU and NATO through the ENP Action Plan and NATO IPAP. Lithuania aims to actively contribute to such cooperation with European and Euro-Atlantic structures by sharing its reform and integration experience.
This year our two countries have consolidated their diplomatic representation: Lithuania has opened its embassy in Baku and appointed its ambassador to your country. The ambassador of Azerbaijan to Lithuania has already presented her credentials as well.
I hope that during Mr. Aliev’s visit to Lithuania we will reflect on all major issues of common interest, including bilateral and regional cooperation, and we will find ways to coordinate our efforts and activities in particular fields, such as energy security and EU and NATO integration. Azerbaijan’s role as energy supplier to Europe is growing and we hope to advance the idea of broader regional co-operation in the field of energy.
A new impetus for economic cooperation between our two countries could also be an important result of this visit since a business forum is planned in addition to official meetings. Business people from both sides have expressed huge interest to participate in this forum.
- In October there will an energy forum in Vilnius, which is also named as a continuation of the Krakow summit. Russian State Duma called Krakow summit an “anti-Russian” one. Do you think the Vilnius summit can be also named so?
- I cannot agree that the Vilnius conference on energy security is anti-Russian or that it is directed against any other country. This summit is aimed at searching together for ways and means to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation among the main energy producers, consumers, and transit countries. We believe that an open dialogue, mutual trust, and transparency are the basic elements of successful cooperation. We have invited top-ranking Russian officials to the conference – which only proves once again that it is not directed against Russia.
- At Krakow summit Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Georgia and Azerbaijan talked about creating a joint energy enterprise, which would be working on the energy projects like “Odessa-Brody”. Are there any movements in that sphere?
- I believe that the Odessa-Brody-Płock-Gdańsk pipeline is among the most significant alternatives to the diversification of oil supplies in respect of both: those countries which will be traversed by the pipeline and the entire European Union. After the Kraków Summit, an intergovernmental working group was established to include representatives of Lithuania, Poland, Ukraine Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan for the implementation of the Odessa-Brody-Płock-Gdańsk project. A feasibility study to analyze technical and economic options for extending the Odessa-Brody pipeline to the Polish seaport of Gdańsk is expected to be completed by the end of this year. We will seek to develop this project into a project of European interest and to implement it as soon as possible.
- How do you value the perspective of realization of the Trans Caspian project? What is the role of that project in bringing the Central Asian oil to Eastern Europe? Is Lithuania interested in this project?
- The European Union is interested in buying natural gas and oil directly from energy producers in the Caspian region. We know that all major oil and gas pipelines from this region traverse Russia’s territory. We believe that ensuring free transit would be a very positive step made by Russia. It would also be an expression of fair and sincere partnership. At the same time we need to develop new energy-supply infrastructure projects which would allow direct imports of oil and gas extracted in the Caspian region. In this perspective, the Trans-Caspian energy projects aimed at gas and oil transportation would be of immense value. They would strengthen European energy security and boost the international geo-energy status of the Caspian Sea region.
- Can Lithuania help Azerbaijan to integrate into any international organizations?
- Lithuania welcomes Azerbaijan’s European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Speaking in more practical terms, we stand ready to share all the lessons learned on the road to the EU and NATO. We already enjoy good traditions of cooperation since Lithuania and Azerbaijan have been cooperating bilaterally for several years in many different fields. Our experience in restructuring security and defense sectors and in establishing the legal framework and coordination mechanisms for Euro-Atlantic integration might be of particular interest to your country, particularly in respect of the current implementation of the Azerbaijan-NATO IPAP (Individual Partnership Action Plan).
- In what other spheres does Lithuania want to cooperate with Azerbaijan?
- Among the areas where bilateral cooperation could and should be intensified I would first of all mention economic relations. The trade turnover is still relatively low, but I think our economic cooperation has great potential because of growing economies in both countries and positive regional developments.
Lithuania and Azerbaijan share common views on the importance of regional cooperation, especially in the fields of European and Euro-Atlantic integration, energy security, and the strengthening of democracy. In this regard, Lithuania strongly supports GUAM’s activities and this was demonstrated by Mr. Adamkus’ attendance of the GUAM summit in Baku this past June. We are also looking forward to Mr. Aliev’s participation in the summit on energy issues to be held this coming October in Vilnius. The EU Black Sea Synergy initiative, including enhanced EU cooperation with the countries of the Black and Caspian seas region, opens new perspectives for Lithuanian and Azerbaijani relations at regional level as well.
Culture should be mentioned as yet another perspective field of cooperation. Lithuania and Azerbaijan both have a rich cultural heritage and we would benefit a lot from cultural exchange. We could take on board other Baltic and South Caucasus countries – as was done in the common UNESCO and Lithuanian Foreign Ministry project “Bridges of Tales “. Now we have a fantastic book of fairy tales from six countries.
- The trade over between our countries is not very big. What can the countries do to increase it?
- Indeed, the trade turnover is still relatively low, not reflecting the potential of growing economies in both countries. Of course, this is due to objective reasons: huge distance, complicated transport communication, different business condition, etc. But I hope that these obstacles will eventually vanish. I am glad that Azerbaijan has shown an interest in our proposal to join the transport chain from the Black Sea to the KlaipÄ—da seaport via the Poti-Ilchevsk ferry line and the Viking cargo train.
Active political cooperation should be directed towards opening up new possibilities and fields of common interest, such as industry, retail trade, real estate, tourism, and financial services.
Lithuanian business people are showing an ever increasing interest in Azerbaijan and other Caucasian countries. The economy of Azerbaijan is growing at a very rapid pace, the required economic reforms are under way, and economic freedom is expanding.
Business missions, participation of business people in specialized exhibitions would contribute to the development of economic relations; therefore, I would like to invite representatives from Azerbaijan to participate in such expositions held in Lithuania.
The business people of both countries could also exchange their knowledge of and experience in gaining access to neighboring markets; for example, Lithuanians could assist their fellow colleagues from Azerbaijan seeking to establish contacts in other Baltic States, while the Azerbaijani business community could help those Lithuanians who are interested in Central Asian and Middle East markets.
One of the main goals that we have set for our diplomacy is that active political cooperation should be followed by stronger economic ties. Therefore, I hope that the opening of embassies in both countries will contribute significantly to the realization of this objective.
- What is the position of Lithuania about the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
- “Frozen conflicts” are a painful problem for the countries involved and a huge obstacle to the development of the region. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is extremely harmful since it hinders the full use of the South Caucasus’ regional potential.
From the EU perspective, the absence of a peaceful resolution is a constant threat for the stability and security in the near neighborhood. Lithuania seeks to create such an understanding among EU members and encourage a more active engagement in resolving the conflict. Some EU countries are already taking part in this process through their participation in the Minsk Group.
We believe that when a compromise is reached, the EU should participate in the post-conflict regulation process, possibly by contributing to an international peacekeeping mission if it is included in such regulation. In our turn, we are ready to participate in this mission: our parliament has already made the appropriate decision regarding the stationing of Lithuanian peacekeepers in specific regions, including the South Caucasus.
- You participated in Baku GUAM summit in June. Does Lithuania want to become a member of that organization?
- We welcome and enthusiastically support the resolve of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to enhance democracy, stability, and prosperity in the region and to work closely through coordinated and united efforts towards achieving these aims.
The initiative of GUAM members to address regional challenges and realize new opportunities places them in a role of true leaders of the region. The Baku Summit provided an excellent opportunity to discuss future cooperation among member states as well as cooperation with other countries, sharing a similar vision of the development of the region.
Lithuania values its engagement as observer in the activities of GUAM since the organization tackles questions that are vital to Lithuania and the whole of Europe, such as the consolidation of democracy, energy security, development of transport networks, resolution of “frozen conflicts” and others.
- Is Lithuania interested in joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Qars-Axalkalaki railway project?
- When participating in international transport infrastructure projects, Lithuania is well aware of the importance of their timely implementation for the benefit of its own social and economic environment and that of the neighboring countries and the region. I am convinced that the upgrading of transport interconnections and the development of a new infrastructure meets the needs of the Lithuanian economy of today and its people. Lithuania is open to a dialogue with Azerbaijan and other countries and we are ready to share our experience in implementing international projects. Lithuania encourages closer contacts between the scientific, academic, and business communities of our two countries. /APA/

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