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Per Stankina: Germany respects territorial integrity of Azerbaijan

17 August 2007 10:40 (UTC +04:00)

-On what stage are the relation between Azerbaijan and Germany?

-The relations between Azerbaijan and Germany are at a very good stage, they are developing everyday. But one can improve everything, and we are working on that now. German embassy is very active in Azerbaijan. For example, I have just come from my visit to Lenkoran, and next Tuesday I will be going to Ganja, Khanlar and Karachamirli, where German archeologists excavated a Persian palace from the 4-3 centuries before Crist. There are many other German activities in your country. I had a meting today with Mr. Natig Aliyev, the minister of energy and industry, and we discussed many issues, mostly the visit of a big business delegation coming in October.

-How do you value the relations between Azerbaijan and Germany in economic sphere?

They seem good. Last year the trade over crossed one billion euros â€“ this is very good. A visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Germany in the beginning of this year gave a good impulse to bilateral economic and political relations. After that we had three huge business delegations from Germany, and now inn October there will come another one with the federal economies minister. We had very useful business forums, during which we had could broaden our economic relations. So i think our economic relations give optimism.

-Azerbaijan and Germany also cooperate very close in culture sphere...

-Next year the government of Azerbaijan will have cultural weeks in Germany, and we will also have some cultural events in Azerbaijan. For example, in a few weeks we will start a cycle of German exhibitions here in Baku, and then in other places in the country. Germany is also very active in culture exchanges with Azerbaijan.

-Germany is a member of EU. Is it possible that Azerbaijan will anytime join the organization?

-It is of course possible! Ten years ago nobody would have believed that Bulgaria and Romania could join EU! And 20 years ago no one could believe that Soviet Union will no more exist! So everything is possible. The EU will only gain if it enlarges its area. But the country has to decide what it wants in future process. The country said â€œWe want to have orientation towards West! We embrace Western valuesâ€. The government says they want to come closer to European standards, and maybe one day Azerbaijan will join EU.

-What does Azerbaijan has to do exactly to join EU?

-Right now Azerbaijan is not on the appropriate position to join European Union. In order to join EU Azerbaijan has to do many things. The democracy issues, but thatâ€™s not the only reason. You have to open and conclude 35 chapters. These 35 chapter compast the whole life of EU nation. These are the things Bulgaria and Romania did for 10-15 years. Maybe with other countries this process will take even more time. But why not in the future.

-Some experts say that the Minsk group of OSCE is useless. They say the situation can change if the co-chairs change. Does Germany want to become a co-chair?

-Certainly not. The Minsk Group is very active. But it canâ€™t make the policy. Politics have to be done by the residents of Azerbaijan and Armenia. The Minsk group can only facilitate the process; can make proposals, talk to both sides. But the decision must be made by the governments of the two countries. And both countries are not yet ready to take the decision.
The position of Germany on the issue is still the same. We respect the borders of Azerbaijan.

-The parliamentarians of Germany are coming to Azerbaijan. In terms of that event, how do you value the relations between Azerbaijan and Germany on parliament stage?

-The relations are very close. There are actually two groups of parliamentarians coming to Azerbaijan â€“ one this Sunday â€“ they are coming for about five days on the invitation of Azerbaijani government. The other group is coming in October â€“ this is a group of friendship./APA/