Baku. Anakhanim Hidayatova – APA. APA’s interview with Italian ambassador to Azerbaijan Mario Baldi
- How would you characterize current Azerbaijani – Italian relationships?
- In one word: excellent. Italy and Azerbaijan are linked by deep feelings of friendship and by a fruitful, multifaceted co-operation. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, our two countries have created a growing number of opportunities for intensifying political dialogue both at bilateral and multilateral level. Membership in the OSCE and at the Council of Europe - strongly supported by the Italian Government - represented an historic step in the process of gradual integration of Azerbaijan in the European Institutions.
In the economic field, Azerbaijan plays a fundamental role in ensuring energy security to Italy, being the fourth oil supplier of my country. Energy is the milestone of our partnership, but I would like to underline that it is a different kind of energy that fuels the deep friendship between our two nations: an energy made of cultural respect and admiration that creates the natural sympathy that binds Italy and Azerbaijan. It is the same energy that explains the extraordinary flux in human contacts between our two people.
These feelings are deep and sincere; they represent the most solid and reliable foundation of our partnership and they are also the most important reason for optimism about the future relations between Italy and Azerbaijan.
- What is the level of tourism cooperation between two states?
- I am glad to observe that a growing number of Azeri citizens discover the beauties of Italy, its hospitality, the unique combination of nature, art, history, landscape and gastronomy. In 2012 we witness an increase by almost 70% of Tourist Visa issued by the Embassy. It is a positive trend, that we try to encourage, tourism being one of the main source of income for Italy.
- Can current crisis in Italy negatively affect Azerbaijani - Italian economy and trade cooperation?
- Due to the crisis, energy consumption decreased in Italy, thus reducing also oil import from Azerbaijan. But generally I am optimist. As I said earlier, economic ties between our two countries are thriving: a significant partnership has developed between our two countries over the last few years. Italy remains the first economic partner of Azerbaijan with a bilateral turnover that will exceed 8 billion Euro in 2012.
Furthermore, there is still a huge potential to be exploited in the economic field. Several new areas of co-operation can open new chapters in the relationship between our two countries: agriculture, ITC, food industry, tourism, renewable energy, only to mention the main ones. This is the reason why the Italian Government - namely the Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Economic Development - constantly encourage Italian companies, particularly small and medium size enterprises, to take part in the process of diversification of the economy carried out by the Azerbaijani Government.
Even more during the current difficult time in the Euro zone, it is necessary that our companies search new opportunities outside Europe and come to discover the Azeri market.
- Can the EU crisis prevent development of Azerbaijani EU cooperation in the frames of eastern partnership program?
- I don’t think so. We - as all other EU members - strongly support efforts aimed at bringing Azerbaijan closer to the European institutions. More specifically, we consider the Eastern Partnership to be an important tool to strengthen and widen the scope of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, both at the bilateral level and in multilateral platforms.
Italy supports Azerbaijan's efforts aimed at getting closer to the European Institutions in terms of harmonization of legislation, improvement of standards and sharing of values. In this context, we encourage further progress in the implementation of joint projects, as well as in the enhancement of political dialogue envisaged by the Eastern Partnership initiative. We also believe that the EU can play a positive role in bringing peace and stability in the Region.
- How can Azerbaijan participate in the solving of Euro zone dept crisis?
- Azerbaijan already plays an important role in ensuring reliable energy supplies to Europe. I think that it can further help by increasing its financial investments - through SOFAZ - in Europe.
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