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Omani foreign minister: â€œEveryone knows that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories by the military wayâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

Omani foreign minister: â€œEveryone knows that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories by the military wayâ€ â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

03 February 2010 07:28 (UTC +04:00)

- How do you value results of your visit to Azerbaijan? Are you satisfied with the level of existed relations?

- I am happy with being in Baku. I visited Baku at the invitation of my colleague Elmar Mammadyarov. We discussed prospects of bilateral relations. My first visit to Azerbaijan was in 1992. Now I witnessed widespread development of Azerbaijan, particularly Baku. Azerbaijan achieved many successes in the economic, political and architectural-construction fields. I am happy to see this development. Azerbaijan has developed its relations with Oman since reaching its independence. Both countries have relationship in the different fields and are planning to sign three agreements in the next three months. These agreements are about stimulation and protection of investment and ceasing of double tax payment. These agreements are very important for the Omani businessmen to make investment in Azerbaijan. The third agreement is about the air transport, which considers direct flights between the two countries.

We are very satisfied with the rate of development of relations between Azerbaijan and Oman and especially we are happy with the decision of Azerbaijan to open its embassy in Oman in near future. Undoubtedly Oman will also decide to open its embassy in Azerbaijan.

- What is Omanâ€™s position on Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

- Everyone knows that Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territories by the military way. The Sultanate of Oman is always supporting the Azerbaijanâ€™s position and advocated for restoration of its territorial integrity.

- Both Azerbaijan and Oman are oil countries. Do they expect to establish cooperation in this field?

- We had wide discussions with the minister of industry and energy of Azerbaijan Natig Aliyev on the prospects of energy relations. We will organize mutual working visits between the relevant agencies of both countries in near future.

- How are the prospects of cultural cooperation between the two Muslim countries?

- We mentioned this issue at the meeting wit Elmar Mammadyarov. We will again discuss the prospects of cultural relations very soon and there will be series of mutual visits between the two countries in the cultural field.

- Are there trade relations between Azerbaijan and Oman currently? Very qualitative Omani flour is sold in Azerbaijan for long years. Is this really Omani flour?

- Yes, it is produced in Oman. But trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Oman is very weak. Inshallah, we will use different methods to increase trade turnover in the next few years and to raise the trade volume to the necessary level.

- Is the cooperation possible in the field of tourism?

- The tourism relations are restricted now because there are no direct flights between the countries. But I believe it will be easy after the signing of air transport agreement.

- When the flights will be realized?

- We hope it will be realized this year.