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Foreign Minister of Norway: Azerbaijan is able to conduct free and fair elections â€“ EXCLUSIVE

Foreign Minister of Norway: Azerbaijan is able to conduct free and fair elections <font color=red>â€“ EXCLUSIVE</font>

04 December 2007 11:20 (UTC +04:00)

Foreign Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Storeâ€™s exclusive interview to APA

-How do you value the relations between Azerbaijan and Norway in the political, economical, social and cultural sphere? What are their perspectives?

- Relations between Azerbaijan and Norway are good, based on cooperation in fields ranging from oil-and gas-extraction to cultural exchange. I am looking very much forward to welcoming your Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov, in Norway soon. We appreciate your Government’s wish for closer political relations and enhanced cooperation politically as well as commercially. I can assure you that we are committed to strengthening our bilateral ties.
Norway has been involved in the Azerbaijani oil and gas-sector since 1994. Today StatoilHydro is the second biggest foreign investor in Azerbaijan, and it is involved in the development of several major oil-and gas projects as well as in the operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and South Caucasus Gas pipelines. StatoilHydro is currently seeking opportunities to broaden their participation in the Caspian region. We put a lot of emphasis on the continuation and strengthening of our cooperation in the energy sector, including on competence building, climate and environment efforts, and in the work to promote transparency in the management of revenues from this field.
Norway appreciates the good cooperation with Azerbaijan on the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), where we now work jointly to promote this initiative in the international arena. We think the issue of transparency in the petroleum economy is vital in order to ensure that the riches of the petroleum age will be a true blessing for Azerbaijan.
Norway is also involved in a number of social projects in Azerbaijan. The Norwegian Refugee Council has been active in Azerbaijan since 1995, providing shelter, human rights education and legal counselling to internally displaced persons. The Norwegian Red Cross has cooperated with the Azerbaijani Red Crescent Society for many years and the Norwegian Humanitarian Enterprise is promoting income generation and agricultural cooperation. In addition the Norwegian Embassy administers a fund supporting local organizations in the fields of democracy building, promotion of human rights, environmental issues and culture. We intend to continue our support to civil society and welcome Azerbaijan’s efforts towards democratic reform.
In the cultural sphere, I am pleased to say that the very successful exhibition "Caravanserai", of Azerbaijani history and culture, in Stavanger, as well as the Norwegian State Opera’s visit to Baku have strengthened our cultural cooperation. Norway wishes to expand cooperation also within research and education. In this context, I would like to mention that the Azerbaijani minister of culture and tourism, Mr. Qarayev, visited Norway earlier this year.

-What is Norway’s opinion on the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh?
- The conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh is a tragedy for Azerbaijan as well as for the whole region. We sincerely hope that the negotiation efforts will succeed to open the way for return of internally displaced persons and a new age for regional cooperation in the South Caucasus.
Norway supports the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. We also support the Minsk groupâ€™s efforts, and recent beginning of contact between academicians and artists of the two countries. The ongoing round of negotiations is a very important one, placing a great deal of responsibility on both parties to move forward.

-The Norwegian Refugee Council is going to stop its activity in Azerbaijan next year. What is the reason for that? Is it possible to continue their work here?

- The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent NGO making its own decisions, so I can not talk on behalf of them. However, as Azerbaijan is in the development stage, and NRC is primarily an emergency organization for internally displaced persons and refugees (IDPs), the Azerbaijani state has developed its capacity and has the funds to implement projects in the fields where NRC usually operates. The pending challenges, such as health, income generation and poverty reduction, mostly fall outside NRCâ€™s normal field of activity.
Some of NRC’s projects have already been transferred to other agencies in 2006 and continue successfully today. The project aiding Chechen refugees will be transferred to the Danish Refugee Council whereas the legal aid-project will continue under the umbrella of a local NGO. Recognizing the need for improved capacity of governmental and non-governmental actors in tackling IDP-related issues, NRC has suggested exploring possibilities for transfer of competence, based on specific needs defined by the Government of Azerbaijan. NRC is in contact with the Azerbaijani authorities and the UNHCR on this.

- The Azerbaijani and Norwegian Diplomacy Academies have signed a document about cooperation. Is it in the perspective for any other education organizations of the two countries to start the cooperation?

-The cooperation between academic institutions in Azerbaijan and Norway is exciting and growing. I met with the Director of the Azerbaijani Academy and I am very impressed about its significant progress. The agreement between our Diplomatic Academies has already produced two joint courses here in Baku, and more will follow. I expect both parties to learn from this exchange in training diplomats. There is also an ambitious cooperation established between the Azerbaijani State University of Languages and the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education, drawing upon academic resources at the Universities of Agder and Oslo. As a result, students in Baku are already learning Norwegian. Likewise, there is an exchange program between the Xhasar University in Baku and the Norwegian School of Management, and between the State Oil Academy of Azerbaijan and the Norwegian University for Science and Technology in Trondheim. I see great prospects for further academic cooperation between our two countries.

-Some Azerbaijani citizens are staying in Norway illegally â€“ some of them tried to get political asylum. What is the Norwegian Government going to do with them?

- Having an application for political asylum turned down, means that the asylum seeker has to leave the country. During the handling of the case, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration considers whether the applicant is at risk of persecution upon return to his or her home country and if he or she is in need of protection in Norway. When a person is considered not to be in need of protection, the immigration authorities always consider whether there are sufficiently strong reasons for granting him or her residence permit based on humanitarian grounds. However, if these reasons are not found, the asylum seeker has to leave the country.

-Norway has always been supportive of Azerbaijani democracy. Do you believe Azerbaijan can have free and fair elections in 2008? Will Norway send any observers?

- I believe that Azerbaijan is able to conduct free and fair elections, and I sincerely hope that will be the case. This is the expectation we have of all members of the OSCE and the Council of Europe. The conduct of a free and fair election process in accordance with legislation based on internationally accepted international principles is fundamental to any democratic society. Whether elections are held in a transparent and open manner, is a question of political will. Norwegian observers have monitored elections in Azerbaijan before, and we would, if asked, be happy to contribute with observers during the elections in 2008.

-StatoilHydro is operating very actively in Azerbaijan. Are there any other companies that would like to work in our country?

- Although StatoilHydro is by far the largest Norwegian company operating in Azerbaijan, it is certainly not the only one. The Norwegian Veritas is active in risk evaluation in the petroleum sector, Aker KvÃ¦rner, AGR Subsea AS and Nymo in offshore drilling. The environmental laboratory Akvamiljo Caspian offers environmental surveys and laboratory services to oil companies and others. Wenaas manufactures protective clothing and gear. StatoilHydro is the â€locomotiveâ€ for Norwegian business interests in Azerbaijan. I am convinced that they have, and will continue to - pave the way for other businesses wanting to invest outside the petroleum sector in Azerbaijan. But, of course, much depends on the investment climate in a broad sense. For instance, Azerbaijani membership of the WTO would increase transparency and international competition, which would be good for the country, too.

-What do you think about the perspectives of Nabucco project? Do you think the whole pipeline and Azerbaijani gas particularly can be a competitor for Norway gas?

-I think the Nabucco project is an interesting idea and that it would enhance energy security in Europe. We should not forget, however, that already today Azerbaijani gas is actually reaching the European market, through the South Caucasus Pipeline going through Turkey and further on. The crucial question is whether there is indeed enough gas for a large-scale project such as Nabucco.
Norwegian and Azerbaijani gas enters the European market in places far apart from each other. Besides, the European need for gas seems to be growing at such a rate that no producer will face problems in selling their gas.

-What does Norway think about GUAM organization? Would you like to start cooperation with it?

- Norway welcomes GUAMâ€™s efforts at peaceful and democratic cooperation between neighbouring states and hopes this organization can contribute to a stable, secure and economically viable development for the member states. Norway has a long history of regional cooperation with its Nordic, Scandinavian and Baltic neighbours. We consider the possible cooperation and exchange of experience with other regional groups to be interesting. /APA/