LITHUANIA CONSIDERS AZERBAIJAN ISLAND OF STABILITY IN SOUTH CAUCASUS: AMBASSADOR
Trend News Agency
Dec 18 2008
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 18/ Trend Capital, N. Abdullayeva/ Interview
of Kestutis Kudzmanas, ambassador of Lithuania to Azerbaijan, with
Trend News.
Question: How do you assess current political, economic and cultural
ties between Azerbaijan and Lithuania?
Answer: Lithuania and Azerbaijan has held intensive political dialogue
for the last two years. The mutual visits of Presidents also prove
this. The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev tripped to Lithuania
twice and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus tripped to Azerbaijan
several times.
During high level meetings, over 10 intergovernmental documents on
economic and political cooperation between Lithuania and Azerbaijan
were signed. Our businessmen became more active in your markets. Less
than 10 Lithuanian companies operated in the Azerbaijani market a
year and half ago when I began as an ambassador. Now there are over
200 Lithuanian companies in Azerbaijan. Our businessmen consider
Azerbaijani market successful.
Question: What measures are needed to be taken to enhance bilateral
cooperation and what are priorities for the next year? What assistance
can Lithuania render in Azerbaijanââ~B¬â~D¢ s integration to the
European Union within the framework of Eastern Partnership? Can
Azerbaijan benefit from Lithuaniaââ~B¬â~D¢s experience?
Answer: We will need more specified cooperation in near
future. Lithuania can offer much to Azerbaijan. First of all, the
experience that Lithuania gained during EU, NATO and World Trade
Organization admission. All processes including formalization of our
rights, standards and enhancing skills of staff can be helpful for
Azerbaijan in all these fields and can speed up Azerbaijanââ~B¬â~D¢ s
integration into the European Union.
Lithuania successfully shares its experience and Azeri specialists
from Ministry of Defense and State Border Service are trained in
Lithuania. Lithuanian customs agencies set example for the entire
Europe and we can offer Azerbaijan our experience in this sphere.
Lithuania is interested in Twining programs between European Union and
Azerbaijan, conformance of legislation and documents to international
standards and Lithuania will offer its experience to Azerbaijan within
this program. It can further encourage Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in
line with Eastern partnership.
Lithuania considers Azerbaijan an island of stability in the South
Caucasus. Of course, we are aware of the problems related to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and latest events in Georgia. Armenia
has caught up in isolation and entire Caucasus is in tension. These
ââ~B¬Â~Xfrozen conflictsââ~B¬â~D¢ influence not only region, but
also the European Union in indirect way. Lithuania is interested in
enlarging zone of security and resolution of these conflicts. We are
hopeful that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be settled by peaceful
means. Azerbaijan is an example of stability in pragmatic policy in
the region. This policy yield positive results regarding security
of energy supplies. New routes for transit of hydrocarbon from the
Caspian region to the European markets are closely linked with the
security of the region. Europe needs to make its own contribution to
security in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.
Question: Lithuania signed Baku Declaration at the end of the energy
summit in Nov. which calls for the establishment of European-Asian
corridor in an attempt to transport hydrocarbon resources from the
Caspian region to international markets. What is Lithuaniaââ~B¬â~D¢s
role in this process?
Answer: Lithuania was one of those to initiate European
Unionââ~B¬â~D&# xA2;s energy policy. EU is interested in diversification
of supply routes to Europe. Azerbaijan can be one of the largest
suppliers who can ensure energy security of whole Europe, not only
of Lithuania. We consider Azerbaijan a country with a promising
future. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and Nabucco will
yield results. Azerbaijan makes every effort to open new trans-Caspian
corridors to the European markets. Even if Azerbaijani oil and gas
is not directly re-transported to Lithuania, it will be delivered to
the European markets and an energy gap in Europe will be reduced. It
will be easier for Lithuania to negotiate with Russia. At present, the
country totally depends on Russian oil and gas. But this dependence
is mutual. If Azerbaijan becomes larger supplier of alternative oil
and gas to the European markets, it will easier for us to found
a common ground with our only supplier ââ~B¬" Russia. There are
realistic prospects of delivery the Azeri oil to the Lithuanian
markets. Lithuania consumes around 12mln tons of oil a year. We buy
Russian gas mainly from Primorsk. We can also receive Caspian oil.
Question: In what other fields of cooperation does Lithuania
interested?
Answer: Energy is not only factor of Azerbaijan-Lithuanian
cooperation. Lithuania and Azerbaijan have found many fields to
cooperate for last years. Possessing of wastes and protection of
environment is carried out at large scale in Lithuania. Lithuanian
ecologist can share experience of cleaning polluted areas and building
purification units in settlements. Our country is a leader in Europe
in this sphere.
The cooperation in the field of medicine could be very
interesting. Lithuania is a leader in cardiosurgery. Our doctors can
help in raising skills of their Azeri counterparts. We have projects on
protection of health of mother and baby, cardiosurgery and improving
skills of medium medical personnel. We have submitted these projects
to Azerbaijan for consideration and await feedback.
Lithuania has worldwide brands. Lithuania has maintained very good
image in several technical fields. It has developed more under
conditions of the European Union. Lithuania has well-known brand
dairy products all over the world. We produce household appliances,
refrigerators and television sets. All these spheres of production
can have their share in Azerbaijani market as well. We are interested
in delivery of furniture to Azerbaijan. Lithuania produces furniture
worth $1bln a year. We export it mainly to the United Kingdom and EU.
Tourism can be viewed as another field of cooperation. We have resorts
and sanatoriums of international importance where Azerbaijani citizens
would be welcome.
–Boundary_(ID_YyxQZii64u18Sww3xALd4w)–