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Ambassador: Japan says it is important Nagorno-Karabakh problem should be solved within the internationally approved border based on the principle of territorial integrity â€“ EXCLUSIVE

20 February 2008 10:24 (UTC +04:00)

- Is Japan satisfied with the existing political, economic and humanitarian relations between Azerbaijan and Japan?
- Now the relations between Azerbaijan and Japan are excellent in the various fields. The Joint statement announced in March 2006, on the occasion of the visit of the President H.E. Ilham Aliyev, indicated direction of the bilateral relations. Economic Relations have been enhanced. High-level visits were carried out. There have also been political dialogues. I would like to promote these excellent relations even better. So not only in economic and political relations, I would like to broaden the scope of relations in culture, sports, tourism and environment.
- Azerbaijanâ€™s state officials have visited Japan two times. Are there any high level visits expected from Japan to Azerbaijan as well?
- Last year in August, Ms. Midori Matsushima, Parliamentary Secretary of Foreign
Affairs visited Azerbaijan and had fruitful meetings with high rank officials.
I would like to promote this kind of high level official visits in the future.
- There have been held two meetings under Japan-GUAM format, in addition
there was organized a seminar in Japan for energy specialists from GUAM
member countries. In what way will this cooperation be continued?
Is Japan going to get a status of observer in GUAM?
- Japan is now studying the possibilities to cooperate with GUAM in the various fields, including energy saving, environmental issues, tourism and so on. In this connection I think programs for the man Resource Development are most important.
Regarding the observer status, it seems to me that the scheme â€œGUAMï¼‹Japanâ€ is something more than the observer status.
- What is the official stance of Tokyo regarding Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the occupation of 20 percent of Azerbaijanâ€™s territory by Armenia?
- 1. The position of the Japanese Government is that it is important that Nagorno-Karabakh problem should be solved within the internationally approved border based on the principle of territorial integrity.
2. Meanwhile, Japan has implemented assistance to improve the life of IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh.
- What issues will be given the priority to at the 5th meeting of Azerbaijan-Japan Joint Economic Committee that is going to be held in Tokyo?
- First of all, I would like to touch upon the nature of this committee.
This is a joint meeting between Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Committee
and Azerbaijan-Japan Economic Committee. Japan-Azerbaijan Economic Committee is composed of Japanese private companies only, whereas the member of Azerbaijan-Japan Economic Committee is basically made up of officials in Ministries of Azeri Government and State Companies such as SOCAR and Azerenergy. In this sense this is a very unique committee, and the basic position of our Government is to provide supplementary support to the smooth activity of Joint Economic Committee. Taking this position into account, I understand that the priority agenda item of the next Committee in Tokyo is to materialize the momentum of the last Committee that was held in Baku in November 2006 after five yearsâ€™ interval. The second day of the Committee is reserved mainly for the bilateral business talks between Japanese private companies and relevant Azeri Ministries and State Companies. I hope each participant will make the best use of this opportunity to enhance actual joint projects.
- Are Japanâ€™s oil companies satisfied with their participation in Azerbaijanâ€™s oil projects? Do they plan to extend the scope of their activity in Azerbaijan?
- As far as I know, it seems that two Japanese companies participating in ACG oil field project, INPEX and ITOCHU, highly appreciate the current performance of the project. In addition, whenever Japanese companies take an interest in doing business further in oil sector in Azerbaijan, the Embassy is always ready to support these companies.
- In what stage is the construction project of the second steam gas power station unit in â€œShimalâ€?
- I have been informed by Japan Bank for International Cooperation that it is in the middle of tendering process. I hope that the winner of the tender will soon be announced by Azerenergy, and the construction of the second unit of â€œShimalâ€ gas combined cycle plant will be started accordingly.
- Azerbaijan plans to establish special economic and innovation zones in future. What assistance can Japan provide to Azerbaijan?
- I think that Azerbaijan can be very attractive market for Japanese companies, because of its 8 million populations and fast growing economy.
The Government of Japan has various schemes to assist the foreign direct investment and trade activities by Japanese companies such as development finance, export and investment insurance, introduction of credit lines and so forth. These schemes can also be applicable for the case that Japanese companies are interested in participating in the special economic and innovation zones which is going to be introduced in Azerbaijan in future.
- What are the perspectives of extending the cooperation in agricultural area? Will the agricultural facilities also be brought from Japan to Azerbaijan in the future?
- Japan has implemented its assistance to the agriculture sector in Azerbaijan chiefly through â€œGrant Assistance to Underprivileged Farmers (2KR)â€.
So far this assistance has been provided for seven times and the total amount of funds disbursed is approximately 21 million U.S. dollars. The agricultural machinery procured through this assistance is 212 tractors, 232 combine harvesters, 354 ploughs and so forth. According to the statistics, the amount of crops produced in Azerbaijan since Japan started its assistance has become twice as much as before. Moreover, Japan provided food assistance through the World Food Programme for six times, and the total scale of these projects amounted to 4.6 million U.S. dollars.
Throughout this cooperation, mostly wheat flours are procured and allocated to the Internal Displaced Persons from Nagorno-Karabakh region. Apart from these schemes, it is also possible to mobilize our funds through â€œGrassroots and Human Security Grant Assistance Programmeâ€ to comparatively small projects proposed by Non-Governmental Organizations, Local municipalities and Academic institutes.
The Embassy is always ready to accept any proposal in this field, and the project would be implemented when it is regarded as a feasible one.
- Japan provides assistance to Azerbaijanâ€™s education and social
spheres, provides grant assistance. Are there plans of realization of any new projects in this area as well?
â€“ 1. Japan has implemented its economic cooperation in various fields. For instance, more than half of Japanâ€™s small scale grant assistance is designated for education sector such as the construction of school buildings. In addition, Japan also assists the rehabilitation of primary health care centres in rural areas as well as formulating the bigger project in health sector such as the Project for Improvement of Medical Equipment for Maternal and Child Hospitals implemented which amounted to 4.3 million U. S. Dollars.
2. Japan attaches an importance to keeping the balance of the assistance to accelerate the economic growth of Azerbaijan and the assistance to alleviate the difficulties of socially vulnerable people. Our â€œGrassroots and Human Security Grant Assistance Programmeâ€ is especially effective in targeting small scale projects.
3. Japan is willing to assist Azerbaijan in future as well, whenever there is a feasible project.
- Do Azerbaijani students study in Japan? Japanese is taught in Baku State University. Is Azerbaijani also taught in Japan?
- ï¼‘ï¼Ž I know that so far 20 students have studied in Japan whom our Embassy sent to Japan as Japanese Government Scholarship Students. Which are 10 master degree students, 5 undergraduate students, and 5 Japanese language studies students. In the master degree the fields of study are medicine, education, mechanical engineering, dentistry and economy etc. And there are a few Azeri students who are studying in Japan at his/her own expense.
ï¼’ï¼ŽJapan has sent a Japanese teacher to Baku State University.
He told me that his students are eager to study Japanese language, at the same time they were also very interested in Japanese people as well.
So, we have a Japanese language conversation club once a month at our Embassy. They can enjoy conversation with Japanese residents in Baku.
ï¼“ï¼ŽI heard a few private language schools have lessons of Azerbaijani language in Japan.
- Are there plans of holding any events or exhibitions in the area of culture?
- Last year, we had a number of activities such as demonstration of Japanese tea ceremony, exhibition of Japanese dolls, Japanese speech contest and so on.
I would like to continue those exhibitions and other cultural activities.