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Ambassador Eynulla Madatli: â€œPakistan did not recognize Armeniaâ€™s independence because of its aggressive policy towards Azerbaijanâ€ â€“ INTERVIEW

Ambassador Eynulla Madatli: â€œPakistan did not recognize Armeniaâ€™s independence because of its aggressive policy towards Azerbaijanâ€ â€“ <font color=red>INTERVIEW</font>

17 June 2010 13:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Lachin Sultanova-APA. APAâ€™s interview with Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan Eynulla Madatli.

-Official opening ceremony was held for Azerbaijani embassy in Pakistan. How important is that the embassy building is the property of country?

- Azerbaijani embassy in Pakistan has functioned as a tenant in different districts of Islamabad since 1997. Construction of a building for embassy is a very important issue. As economy is growing and our opportunities are extending, existence of diplomatic missions represented abroad, embassy buildings worthy for the name of our country, its international authority is very important. It is so important that if one country has embassy complex, if it has private property, moreover, if this complex is situated in one of the good places of the city, if there are held different events, if there are realized other mass events and culture days, it talks of the authority of that country and is one of the significant indicators. The embassy remained since USSR today belongs to Russian Federation. Azerbaijan is the only country having private property and embassy complex after Russia. On the other hand, owning permanent embassy building is an indicator of our attitude towards that country. We moved to new building on November 17 last year and raised our flag there. But official opening ceremony was held yesterday by the participation of Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov. His participation has increased Pakistanâ€™s attitude towards this event more. Minister of State of Pakistan, Deputy Chairman Senate came to opening ceremony too. The complex consists of three stored administrative building, three stored residence, four stored residential building for embassy officials and guest homes.

-What is Pakistanâ€™s role in foreign policy of Azerbaijan?

- Islamic Republic of Pakistan is one of the very important countries for our state. Heydar Aliyevâ€™s first word to me was so when he appointed me as ambassador to Pakistan: â€œBe attentive, Pakistan is important for usâ€. Because Pakistan was an initiator of first and decisive resolution # 822 during discussions at UN Security Council connected with the occupation of some part of our lands by Armenians in 1993. At that time Pakistan was non-permanent member of UN Security Council and at the same time it chaired UN Security Council. That resolution draft was prepared just by Pakistan. Pakistan supports Azerbaijan in adoption of other resolutions too. Pakistan is the second country recognizing Azerbaijan after Turkey. There is another feature as well, and it is very characteristic. Pakistan did not recognize Armenian independence because of its aggressive policy towards Azerbaijan and did not establish diplomatic relations this country. President Ilham Aliyev gave me one more concrete task in 2004 â€“ relations with Pakistan must be raised to the highest partnership level, Pakistani political support for Azerbaijan, as well as Azerbaijanâ€™s political support for Pakistan must be continued mutually in all issues related to the national interests of Pakistan. It was not so difficult to do this, because our president plays a leading role both in determination of foreign policy and in its realization. Construction embassy building in Pakistan has a political meaning as well. You know that, recently, serious problems connected with security are being took place in Pakistan, Afghanistan, in that region, terrorism, bloody incidents are committed against nations of that regions on the basis of extremism. NATO forces continue antiterrorist operations in Afghanistan. In such situation radicals oppressed by armed forces in those countries, extremists, terrorists, organizations related to Al-Qaida are taking revenge. Blasts, murders, hostage taking happened at diplomatic missions many times. And that is why existence of peculiar embassy building in such sensible region as Pakistan, its technical supply, set up of security system, construction of a building for all employees, nearness of working place and living place are very important issue.

-Have relations with Pakistan reached the level of strategic partnership?

- Our relations with Pakistan are above the strategic partnership. I would like to emulate it with our relations with Turkey. Along with strategic partnership, there is mutual love among people, common culture, historical traditions. The territory where Pakistan is located, was ruled for seven hundred, eight hundred years by Turkish dynasties. The people of those places know that Azerbaijan is not a foreign country, in Urdu â€œbaijanâ€ means â€œbrother soulâ€.

-You also represent Azerbaijan in Afghanistan. At what level are our ties with this country?

- Afghanistan needs not only our aid, but also all the friendly countries. From the first days, within our opportunities we take part in establishing and protecting peace in Afghanistan. There is a program of non-military nature, adopted by our State in connection with Afghanistan. This program is carried out step-by-step, last month the delegation headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov held very productive meetings in Afghanistan. We have already studied all the needs of Afghanistan, and work with that country is continued in accordance with its needs. How developed are our neighbors, so calm for us, and there will be fewer problems, and cooperation will be mutually beneficial. There must be development for the presence of stability, and for development severe consequences of a 30-year war must be eliminated. All the resources of this nation are already on the wane, the Afghan people need only help, and we are one of those countries that do not deny such assistance. This assistance is carried out not only within the framework of bilateral terms, but also within the international process.

-What can you say about our economic relations with Pakistan?

- Unfortunately, economic relations are not heartwarming. And it is connected with objective reasons. Within recent years, some problems occurred particularly as a result of known processes in Pakistan and Afghanistan. In this regard, the desire of our entrepreneurs, in particular of private sector to build work there is not at a high level. This is related not only to us but to all the entrepreneurs of the world who had an interest in this region. Business life has eased in the country, the government takes measures to attract investment. However, there are areas where our cooperation is developing very well, and there are perspectives for further cooperation. An example for this we can make defense industry. Conducting joint training courses between the organs of internal affairs, intelligence agencies, cooperation in this area is continued very successfully. Our three professors teach at the Islamabad Institute of Technology. Today, we have not any students studying in, on the contrary, there occurred great interest in learning of Azerbaijan in Pakistan. The citizens of these countries are studying at the Diplomatic Academy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the University of Khazar, Baku State University.

-There a lot of Pakistani immigrants in Azerbaijan. Is the embassy controlling this process?

- I do not know the number of Pakistani immigrants. I only know about the people receiving a visa at the embassy to travel to Azerbaijan, but there are Pakistani citizens who receive a visa from third countries. However, one must take into account this reality: as our country develops, with improved comfort and safety, with the development of all kinds of conditions for work and business, the flow from developing countries will always be. It is a normal and natural process. But, on the other hand, this process must be controlled. State Migration Service is working in connection with it. All citizens entering the country should have a single system, within this system by continuous monitoring can be done so that no one may violate the rules of migration. I think the number of Pakistani immigrants in Azerbaijan can be several hundreds of people.