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Ambassador Fuad Ismayilov: Austria regards Azerbaijan as economic and demographic leader in the South Caucasus

14 August 2007 10:50 (UTC +04:00)

-What is your assessment of current mutual relations in political, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields between Azerbaijan and Austria?
-The relations between the two countries are gradually developing. Though there is a dynamics in the development of mutual relations, there is a great potential regarding it, but it has not yet been realized. I mean economic field first of all. We have good cooperation in political and cultural sectors. Ministry of Culture and Tourism is implementing projects at present. But unrealized potential in economic field needs to be used.
-Austrian Economics Minister is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan. Do you think it will intensify the economic relations?
-Economics and Labor Minister of Austria Martin Bartenstein will arrive in Baku on September 19 after visiting Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. This visit will give an impetus on the development of the economic relations between the two countries. The visit aims to discuss cooperation in energy, and implementation of Nabucco project will be in the first plan. Following this, development of relations in the other field of economics will also be discussed. The documents to be signed afterwards should be specified within the visit. The guest will have meetings in the Ministry of Fuel and Energy, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism, as well as State Oil Company.
- Culture and Tourism Ministry often speaks about recent strengthened mutual relations with Austria.
- Newly-established Tourism Institute has already concluded an agreement with Krems University of Austria. According to this document, Austrian University will help us in the preparation of training programs for managers and staff qualification in tourism field.
- Austrian Presidentâ€™s visit to Azerbaijan is likely to give impetus to the deepening of the relations.
- Austrian Presidentâ€™s visit to Azerbaijan is on the agenda at present. The visit was planned to this year. But as Austria chaired the European Union in the first half of 2006, and parliamentary elections was held in the country in autumn, the visit was scheduled for 2008. The visit program of the President will be discussed in the framework of the visit of Austrian Federal Minister of Economics and Labor. Several documents are due to be signed in the field of education, humanitarian sciences and culture during the visit of the President.
-Austrian Parliament members are expected to visit Azerbaijan in autumn. How do you assess the prospects of interparliamentary relations?
-The prospects depend on us. Mutual relations in this field are in the level of the interaction of parliamentarians in various international structures. But we aim to establish direct relations. I hope forthcoming visit of Austrian parliamentarians will help this. It is hard to say when the visit will take place, this issue is discussed in Austrian Parliament. They are establishing parliamentary group for interparliamentary cooperation in the South Caucasus at present. We will know the exact date of the visit as soon as the group is formed.
-What does Azeri diplomacy do regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict in Austria?
-First of all, Vienna is associated with PACE as the organizationâ€™s headquarter is located here. Major discussions on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict are held within the framework of PACE. As for Austria itself, I can say that, the conflict is one of major ones on the agenda. Austria is taking an active part in several international organizations, such as UN, PACE, EU, Council of Europe and its position coincides with that of world community. Austria backs the Nagorno Karabakh conflictâ€™s solution in the framework of international law norms.
-How active is our Diaspora in Austria?
-We would like they were more active. We have several diaspora units in Austria some of them were established in the 90â€™s. These associations aim at propagating Azeri culture in Austria. The association of students studying in Austria is more active, of course the Embassy helps them.
-Popular historian Erik Faygl was a friend of all Turks as well as of Azerbaijan. Are there any successors of him in Austria?
-Erik Faygl was a unique and frank person and he loved Azerbaijan for real. Such people are rare. It is hard to speak of his particular successors but the deceased was a very respectful personality. There are some people among his friends that are ready to fight for the development of Azeri-Austrian relations.
-Opening ceremony of the monument to Uzeyir Hajibeyov took place last year in Austria. Do you intend to hold events likewise?
-It is planned to erect monument to Mehdi Huseynzade in Slovenia. The opening ceremony will take place in Novogoritsa. World fame opera by U.Hajibeyov â€œArshin mal alanâ€ will be re-staged in several cities of Austria.
-Does Austria intend to open its embassy in Azerbaijan?
-Austria does not have a plan at present. But Austria is interested in Azerbaijan much more than in other South Caucasus countries. They regard Azerbaijan as a leader in the region in economic and demographic aspect./APA/