Foreign

Home page

Foreign

Lithuanian ambassador: There is great potential for development of relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania

18 June 2007 10:22 (UTC +04:00)

- What is your assessment of the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?
- The relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania are multilateral. The countries have common history and it helps closely understand each other. The juridical system of the two countries is transferring from soviet standards to world standards, the society transforms to new system and reforms are being carried out. There also are common points in economic and humanitarian spheres, we can exchange experience in a number spheres.
- Can Lithuania help Azerbaijanâ€™s integration into the European Union, Euro-Atlantic arena and other European structures?
- I am sure that Azerbaijan and Lithuania can cooperate not only on bilateral level, but also in the format of UNESCO and Council of Europe. Lithuania voted for Azerbaijan during the debates on Azerbaijan in international formats. Azerbaijan signed action plan in the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy last year. We can help Azerbaijan in the implementation of the plan, as Lithuania is the member of the European Union. Besides, Lithuania is the member of World Trade Organization and Azerbaijan negotiates for membership to the organization. We can also help Azerbaijan on this problem. The main target of Lithuanian export , when it was not the member of the European Union were the union member states. Lithuania has great experience in using appropriate standards. We know the mechanisms and are ready to exchange experience with Azerbaijan.
- What changes are observed in the bilateral relations between the two countries after Lithuanian presidentâ€™s visit to Azerbaijan?
- Mutual visits between the two countries have intensified recently. Remarkable improvement is observed in the relations after the meeting of Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev and Lithuanian president Valdas Adamkus. There is great potential for the development of the relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania. We are glad that President Aliyev accepted the invitation of Lithuanian president Valdas Adamkus concerning the official visit.
- When will Azerbaijani President visit Lithuania?
- We hope that the President visit Lithuania in autumn, in September. It will be an official visit. Besides, Vilnius energy summit will be held in Lithuania and Azerbaijani President has been invited to the event.
- Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, Georgia and Azerbaijan passed a decision on setting up a joint establishment that will be engaged in preparation of energy projects and the development of Odessa-Brodi oil pipeline. Is there any improvement in this issue?
- If we start implementing Odessa-Brodi project, the real continuation of the project can be seen in Poland and Lithuania. We buy energy from Russia at present. We try to prevent politicization of energy market. We want to ensure our security. Both in the context of Lithuania and European Union. Political decision was made on this issue in Krakow summit and consultations are underway at the level of experts. This issue was not only included to the agenda of GUAM but it is to be debated in the format of presidentsâ€™ meeting. We support projects like Odessa-Brody.
- Some years ago Lithuania offered State Oil Company of Azerbaijan republic (SOCAR) to participate in the oil transportation and import one million ton oil from Azerbaijan. Are these issues being negotiated?
- Some talks are underway. But in fact, one million tonnes of oil does not meet Lithuaniaâ€™s needs. We have one oil refinery plant in Mojeyka which produces 12 million tones of oil a year. In other words, we are ready to buy as much oil as you offer.
- In what fields Lithuania wants to start cooperation with Azerbaijan?
- For example, I think there is serious perspective in business sphere. Lithuania companies making me call phone are not interested only in petrochemical field. Our companies consider there is huge prospect in cooperation in information technology and sofware field. Lithuania is one the leaders in producing software in Europe and it sell it to many international corporations. It would be very interesting if our countries cooperate in industry and technologies sector. We prepared big projects in industry. Fore example, Lithuanian companies can construct nitrogen fertilizer plant in Azerbaijan. We are skilled in this field. Lithuania has advantages in launching business in Azerbaijan. I mean rich recourses, cheap working forces, favorable geographical position, fast growing market, good condition created for investments. We think we can assist Azerbaijan in the development of service sphere, for example improving trade and supermarkets net. We can be operator regarding issue. Of course, there are reasons which delay Lithuanian businessmenâ€™s involvement in Azerbaijan economy. They are long distance between Azerbaijan and Lithuania, conditional differences in business etiquette, frozen conflicts. One of the perspective fields is culture. Some times ago Lithuaniaâ€™s Culture Minister was in Azerbaijan. He invited his counterpart to visit Lithuania. Azerbaijan is a country with rich culture, and we can cooperate in this field. Another promising sphere is tourism. As Azerbaijanis remember Lithuaniaâ€™s Palanga resort all Lithuanians remember Caspian beaches. But I think Azerbaijanâ€™s tourism should aim gaining quality but not quantity.
- Lack of direct flights between Azerbaijan and Lithuania delays development of bilateral cooperation in tourism fieldâ€¦
- It is expected to open Baku-Vilnius flight in perspective. As we do not have Embassies this issue is delayed. Now Lithuania operates an Embassy in Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan will open its Embassy this year. Now the process of appointing Ambassador is underway. I raised issue of opening direct flight through Air Baltic.
- Is it expected to simplify visa regime between two countries?
- Our Embassy does not give visa for Lithuania. We are waiting for consulâ€™s arrival hoping to give visa from this year.
- What about the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?
- The trade turnover between the two countries was $9 million in 2006. The trade turnover has increased four times since 2003. This is a good indicator from the development aspect. According to the indicators of 2005, cotton comprised 13% of products exported from Lithuania to Azerbaijan, cash dispensers and other technologies 63%, medicines 6%. Azerbaijan exported polyethylene, fruit and vegetables, machine building and other products to Lithuania. Lithuania has started to export printing materials, video and other technologies to Azerbaijan since 2006.
- Do the statistics on trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Lithuania announced by customs offices coincide?
- I worked as a chief of customs service, and I am glad that Lithuanian and Azerbaijani statistical indicators regarding trade turnover coincide. It shows that there is no secret economic factor.
- Does Lithuanian Diaspora exist in Azerbaijan?
- There is no Lithuanian Diaspora in Azerbaijan. Actually, tens of Lithuanians are living in our country. There is not Azerbaijani Diaspora in Lithuania, but there are three Azerbaijani communities in Lithuania. These communities are actively operating, even they participated in the first congress of Azerbaijani and Turkish Diasporas in Baku in March. Azerbaijanis living in Lithuania have no any problem, they know our language well.
- Do interparliamentary relations between the two countries satisfy the parties?
- Our interparliamentary relations are in high level. These relations expanded two years ago, after friendship group has been established in Lithuanian Parliament. The members of this friendship group are intended to visit Azerbaijan in autumn.
- Does Lithuania share Azerbaijanâ€™s position regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict?
- Lithuania always recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and stated that Nagorno Karabakh is inalienable part of Azerbaijan. We are also supporting the solution of the Nagorno Karabakh in the framework of Minsk Group. We are interested in the maintenance of stability and security in Azerbaijan and whole region.
- Lithuanian President is also participating in GUAM Baku summit. Does your country want to become the member of this organization? Can Lithuania be represented in GUAM with the status of observer?
- Lithuania will not enter GUAM. I see grounds for cooperation in the format of GUAM-European Union. GUAM can be neighboring alliance to European Union. GUAM is the main bridge between European and Asian markets. As to the observing status of Lithuania in GUAM, this is the chance for exchange of experience. If we are interested, we can think over the observing status in GUAM. Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus also attends GUAM Baku summit, Azerbaijani and Lithuanian Presidents are intended to meet in the framework of the visit. This meeting will positively impact the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania. /APA/