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Ambassador of Brazil to Azerbaijan: Brazil supports the Minsk Group efforts and the implementation of the set of 4 resolutions approved by the United Nations Security Council about the conflict - INTERVIEW

24 April 2012 08:55 (UTC +04:00)

â€“ Despite the geographical location of both countries how do you estimate the potential of Azerbaijani â€“ Brazilian relationship?
â€“ As you know our diplomatic relations date back to 1993, and the Brazilian Embassy in Baku opened in 2009. Since then we have done considerable progress and were able to develop sound bilateral cooperation in different areas. Coming May, Azerbaijan is sending Ambassador Elnur Sultanov as your countryâ€™s first Ambassador to Brazil, and the presence of the Azerbaijani Embassy in BrasÃlia will certainly further contribute to the strenghtening of our relationship.
We have great potential for working together in many fields, ranging from oil and gas to information technologies, large infrastructural projects and civil construction, as well as in tourism, culture and sports. Part of these positive prospects is about to be translated into concrete steps: the Azerbaijani Minister of Youth and Sport Azad Ragimov is going on a official visit to Brazil soon, and will sign a cooperation agreement in sports with his Brazilian counterpart.

â€“ There is an agreement between two countries on facilitating visa requirements, what work has been done in this direction?
â€“ Yes, we have an agreement presently in force, which exempts from visas holders of diplomatic and official passports and has made much easier the exchange of official missions. In our first meeting, President Ilham Aliyev mentioned business and tourism among his priorities for even stronger bilateral relations, which may lead in the near future to an extension of the existing arrangement, so that the holders of ordinary passports may also be exempted from visas.

â€“ As you know more then 20 % of Azeri territories are occupied by Armenian troops, what is your official position on Nagorno â€“ Karabakh conflict?

- We think the conflict should be settled by peaceful ways only. This very clear and consistent position is based on a key clause of my countryâ€™s Constitution, which enshrines the peaceful solution of conflicts as one of the main guiding principles of our foreign policy.

Brazil supports, therefore, the Minsk Group efforts, and do not favour unilateral initiatives that selectively choose any of the basic principles of the peace process over the others.

Furthermore, Brazil supports the implementation of the set of 4 resolutions approved by the United Nations Security Council about the conflict, and highlights as well the need to guarantee adequate protection to the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons of all sides.

â€“ Do Brazilians know Azerbaijan?

â€“ Sure we do, and interest has been increasing in recent years, as your country becomes a venue of choice for a number of important international cultural and sporting events. From 2011 on, for instance, Brazilians have known even more about Azerbaijan because of the Eurovision song contest to be held next May in Baku. The same is true of FIFAâ€™s Women Under-17 competition you will be hosting in September 2012. Our two countries share a common passion for music and sports, and you may rest assured that both events will have large audiences in Brazil.

- How many Brazilian citizens live and work in Azerbaijan?

-- The local Brazilian community is small. According to our Consular Service, there are about 40 Brazilians living in Azerbaijan, most of them connected with sports (futsal, volleyball and football). We are very proud that a few of these athletes made it to your national teams.

â€“ Can you name any Brazilian company operating in Baku?

-- There are no Brazilian companies established here as yet, but representatives of some of our leading business groups have been visiting Baku and are interested in setting shop in this country, thus accepting President Aliyevâ€™s kind invitation to become partners in the fast-paced development of the Azeri economy.
Earlier this month, the OCGP SOCAR Forum held in Baku had as one of its 4 golden co-sponsors Andrade Gutierrez (AG). Besides being the 2nd largest Brazilian player in the segment of infrastructural works, oil and gas, public transportation, civil construction and many other sectors, 60-year-old AG has also developed an impressive global presence, with 1,000 completed projects in 40 countries.

- As I know, this is your first visit to Azerbaijan. You have already been for more than two weeks here, what are your impressions?

-- The country has exceeded by far our best expectations. Before coming here, a Brazilian friend sent me a short e-message, wishing me luck in â€œ3Bâ€, his acronym for a city he visited and fondly recalled as â€œbeautiful, blooming Bakuâ€. I have just e-mailed him back last week and proposed that â€“ at least during spring, to be fair to the colorful explosion of thousands of tulips and other flowers in the capitalâ€™s many parks â€“ Baku should be upgraded to â€œ4Bâ€, standing for â€œbeautiful, booming, blossoming Bakuâ€.