APA conducted an exclusive interview with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the Slovak Republic Robert Kaliňák.
– At what stage is the implementation of the agreements signed between Azerbaijan and Slovakia in the field of defense
– We are currently at the first stage of implementing the €210 million framework agreement between Azerbaijan and Slovakia for the purchase of 100 automatic mortars. I think tomorrow at ADEX you will have the opportunity to see the first Azerbaijani-made automatic mortar. We are very proud to be able to present the first result of our cooperation.
We hope to continue our cooperation and, at the final stage, transition to producing the products entirely in Azerbaijan. The plan is for one-third of the contract to be supplied by our factories in Slovakia. At this stage, technology transfer will take place. In the second third, production will be carried out partly in Azerbaijan and partly in Slovakia. In the final third, I think the technology transfer will be completed and the products will be manufactured entirely in Azerbaijan. The first example is already here, and you will be able to see it tomorrow at ADEX. I think everything is going according to plan, and we are very pleased with our cooperation with our Azerbaijani friends.
– Following this agreement, is the implementation of new joint projects between Azerbaijan and Slovakia in the defense industry, including opportunities for technology transfer and joint production, expected?
– Yes, as I mentioned earlier, this agreement is based on technology transfer. We do not simply want to sell our products. We want to share our common security interests, and one of the ways to do this is to share our knowledge and technologies.
On the other hand, the technology and UAVs that Azerbaijan possesses are also of interest to us. In particular, we are focusing on studying drone technology, which is very highly developed in Azerbaijan. We have already selected some products, and we think that we will reach a concrete agreement in the near future.
– Then can we say that a joint Azerbaijan-Slovakia defense industry enterprise or plant will be established in the near future?
– Yes, we have such plans. This issue is currently being discussed between our ministry and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Defense Industry. I think we will have a meeting with Vugar Mustafayev tomorrow, and I am looking forward to this discussion. We always have very good discussions with Vugar. Part of these discussions will also concern the possible establishment of a joint venture between Slovak and Azerbaijani companies. Ultimately, we want to determine the direction in which our cooperation will develop in the coming years.
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