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Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan: â€œArmenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijanâ€ - INTERVIEW

Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan: â€œArmenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijanâ€ - <font color=red>INTERVIEW </font>

03 October 2011 10:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Victoria Dementieva â€“ APA. Interview with Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Zoran Vajovic

- Mr. Ambassador, Serbian embassy has been opened in Azerbaijan recently. Did you visit Azerbaijan befor?

- The Serbian embassy was opened in Azerbaijan in March. I arrived in Baku in May and submitted my credentials to President Ilham Aliyev. I am happy that our embassy is located in the center of Icherisheher (Old City of Baku), which was included in the UNESCOâ€™s list. I like this place. There was no official opening ceremony and we are expected to hold the ceremony next year. But the embassy is working and we are planning to open the consular office as well. I visited Baku several times before. I was working in the Serbian embassy in Turkey, which was also responsible for the relations with Azerbaijan. I was very happy while hearing about my appointment to Azerbaijan. I have not been in the region of Azerbaijan yet, but I believe that your country achieved fantastic results during 20 years of independence. We can see these results everywhere â€“ new roads are constructed, large-scale infrastructure projects are realized, much attention is given to the construction of social facilities, new oil and gas fields are discovered, the country increases its currency resources every year and all of these show how big potential Azerbaijan has.

- How do you value the development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia?

- The bilateral relations between our countries are developing and our partnership reaches new strategic level. Serbia and Azerbaijan have no discords in any issue. There is a mutual understanding in the level of both bilateral and international cooperation. I am very happy that I am working in the country, which has good political relations with Serbia. Our countries defend each other in the international arena and within all international organizations.

- Which spheres is Serbia interested to develop cooperation with Azerbaijan in?

- Our political relations are in highest level. A number of mutual visits were realized in the past year. Serbian President Boris Tadic visited Azerbaijan in May, 2010 and President Ilham Aliyev visited Serbia in June, 2011. The meetings between foreign ministers Vuc Jeremic and Elmar Mammadyarov have regular and intensive character. Serbia is very interested in the development of economic relations and economic and trade relations. Unfortunately the level of economic relations is at odd with the level of political relations.

- Serbia-Azerbaijan intergovernmental commission is expected to hold first meeting in Belgrade this autumn. Are the date and agenda of the meeting scheduled?

- The commissionâ€™s first meeting will be held on November 3-4, 2011 in Belgrade. It was agreed during the two-day visit of Vuc Jeremic, who is co-chair of the commission, to Azerbaijan on August 31, 2011. The first business forum will also be held in the framework of the meeting. We are hopeful that the agreement on economic cooperation and some agreements between the business people will be signed during this forum. Serbia is interested in involving Azerbaijani investment in its economy. Azerbaijan is also interested in participation in the infrastructure projects in Serbia, including the construction of roads and ports. I consider that the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission will be an important step toward strengthening the economic cooperation between the countries.

-Serbia-Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce is functioning in Belgrade. Some Azerbaijani construction and foreign trade companies have already opened their offices in Belgrade. Some Serbian construction companies also have offices in Baku.

-Is Serbia interested in improving energy cooperation with Azerbaijan?

-Serbia is interested in participating in any energy project that can pass through its territory. Any pipeline that will pass through the territory of Serbia may be profitable for our country.

-What steps is your embassy going to take in order to develop scientific and cultural relations between our countries?

-This issue was also discussed during the visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk JeremiÄ‡ to Baku. We are planning to exchange students and teachers, organize various exhibitions. I would like to arrange the visit of the Belgrade Philharmonic to Azerbaijan to participate in Gabala festival. Serbian representatives will also attend the World Youth Forum that will be held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijanâ€™s independence.

-How is visa for your country granted?

-Serbiaâ€™s visa policy is liberal enough. Serbia cancelled visa regime with Turkey, offered to cancel visa regime with Azerbaijan last year. It would allow the citizens of both countries to travel free and to develop the bilateral relations in tourism. But visa travel exists between our countries. By the end of the year we are planning to open a consular department and issue visas to the Azerbaijani citizens that will visit Serbia.

-How much is trade turnover between our countries?

-Unfortunately, the volume of trade turnover is not so big, it does not coincide with the level of political relations between our countries. The trade turnover was $ 10 million last year. Trade turnover is based on agriculture, import of food products. We would like Serbia to join energy projects. Oil and gas account for the main part of Azerbaijanâ€™s export, we would like to increase our share of participation in this field. I am sure that the first meeting of the intergovernmental commission will give an impetus to the development of trade turnover between our countries. We are interested in extending energy cooperation, increase foreign trade deals and export agricultural products to Azerbaijan. Work continues on the accumulator plant project of Serbian companies in Azerbaijan. Enhancement of economic relations is the top priority of the development of bilateral relations and the embassy is playing an active role in this process by establishing contacts with the private sector.

-What is Serbiaâ€™s position in Nagorno Karabakh conflict?

-Serbiaâ€™s position has not changed. Serbia supports Azerbaijanâ€™s territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty. The conflict must be solved peacefully. Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, because all international organizations, including the four resolutions of the UN confirm the occupation of Azerbaijanâ€™s territories. Serbia strongly supports Azerbaijan concerning this issue in the international arena.

We are small countries valuing our independence and object to the double standard policy in the international relations of the 21st century. Sometimes, these double standards are also felt in the resolution of Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Even with the participation of the worldâ€™s leading political players Azerbaijan can not still achieve the victory of justice, return of the territories and internally displaced persons. Azerbaijan also supports Serbia in the Kosovo problem. The southern part of Serbia, Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija unilaterally declared their independence, Serbia does not accept it.