Czech Republic Ambassador: Czech PM will attend opening of embassy in Azerbaijan

What spheres of cooperation with Azerbaijan will the Czech Embassy in the country give preference to?

Since the Czech Republic considers Azerbaijan its strategic partner, we want to develop relations with Azerbaijan not only in political and economic fields, but also we are interested in cooperation in all other spheres: science, culture, education, tourism, etc. I do not want to mention one of the spheres, since I am sure that they all have their value in the system of bilateral relations, and the development of cooperation in one sphere facilitates contacts in the other.

The Czech Embassy seeks to promote contacts between peoples, provide interested Czechs with reliable information about Azerbaijan, the possibilities and conditions of cooperation with Azerbaijani partners and thus involve them to Azerbaijan. On the other hand, the Embassy tries to present the Czech Republic to the Azerbaijanis as a mutually beneficial partner.

How do You think, is the political climate favorable for improving relations and political dialogue between the two countries?

Of course, the political climate for the further development of Azerbaijani-Czech relations is favorable. There are no contentious, problematic issues in our relations. The last two years were significant for bilateral cooperation: we were able to organize a series of important bilateral visits and meetings at the highest level. Embassies were opened in both countries: in 2007, Azerbaijani Embassy was opened in Prague, in 2009 - Embassy of the Czech Republic in Baku. Official opening of the Czech Embassy is scheduled to take place during Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jan Kohout's visit to Azerbaijan in the first half of May this year.

I am sure that the Azerbaijani-Czech relations have good future. Although we still have a lot of work, it is important that there is mutual interest to make this work.

In October last year Azerbaijan and the Czech Republic signed an agreement on economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation, also there are plans to establish a joint commission for cooperation in these fields. How successfully is the agreement implemented? And has the commission been established?

Yes, the inter-governmental agreement on economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation was signed. The Czech and Azerbaijani sides have implemented all domestic procedures required for its entry into force. So soon we can start concrete work to establish the commission.

It is necessary to determine the regulations for the activities of the commission, which its co-chairmen will approve at the first meeting. In general, I am confident that the work of the joint commission will help strengthen mutual contacts between Czech and Azerbaijani businessmen, as well as the development of trade and economic cooperation.

In which sectors of the Azerbaijani economy Czechia plans to participate more actively? In which industries can the Czech Republic offer Azerbaijani businessmen to invest?

The Czech companies and entrepreneurs have much to offer the Azerbaijani partners. In addition to such traditional export commodities, like cars, trucks, construction machinery, machine tools, glass and much more, we see the possibility of cooperation in the field of alternative and renewable sources of energy, processing of agricultural products, including supplies of various turnkey plants, such as canned plants, packaging lines and breweries. Also great prospects linked to cooperation in the field of environment, in what we have good experience and technology. This includes water treatment, recycling, remediation after oil extraction.

Regarding the investments of Azerbaijani businessmen, I want to emphasize that the Czech Republic is one of the most attractive countries in Europe to sustain small and medium-sized and large businesses. This is due, above all, to a stable political system, high level of public demand for various goods and services. Despite the global economic and financial crisis, the country is visited by a large number of foreign tourists and the state created favorable conditions for entrepreneurs and development of credit and banking system.

There is interest in developing business activities in several priority sectors. In particular, we are talking about the automotive industry, aviation and space industry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, biotechnology, chemistry and pharmaceuticals, IT and software development, nanotechnology, renewable and alternative energy sources.

Given the increasing gas demand in Europe, how does the Czech Republic plan to ensure its energy security and meet the fuel demand in the domestic market?

First, I want to say that Azerbaijan is a very important partner of the Czech Republic in terms of energy security. It is connected with the fact that the country receives 25 percent of its oil from Azerbaijan.

Of course, we are interested in improving their energy security and the natural gas supply. Therefore, from the very beginning Czechia supported the Nabucco gas pipeline project as part of a broader EU's intention to diversify energy sources and ways of their transportation to Europe. I mean the so-called 'Southern Corridor'.

During its presidency in EU, the Czech Republic tried to do everything to ensure the "Southern Corridor" project to become more real. The country organized the 'Summit of the Southern Corridor' whose goal was to create a political environment and political support for economically viable projects of cooperation in the framework of the 'Southern Corridor ' with the participation of representatives of EU, the gas-producing and transit countries in Prague in May 2009. Czechia highly appreciates the active participation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in that Prague summit.

What is the official position of the Czech Republic on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

The country closely follows the developments around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We believe the peace talks between the two sides, a peaceful solution to the conflict based on international law and the principles adopted in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group is the only possible and acceptable way to solve the problem. In this spirit, the Czech Republic supports the OSCE Minsk Group's efforts.

How does the Czechia-Azerbaijan cultural cooperation develop? What plans and projects does your embassy have in this area?

Cultural ties between our countries, between artists and art are a fairly long tradition. We hope that the forthcoming creation of a mixed commission for economic, scientific-technical and cultural cooperation will help deepen concrete cooperation in the cultural field, and that cultural cooperation will play in the Czech-Azerbaijani relations ever more important and irreplaceable role.

Even now I watch the Czech and Azerbaijani artists' interest to travel to Baku and Prague, to present art and culture of their country. Hopefully in the near future we will be able to organize in Baku several cultural events such as the introduction of the Czech Cinematography, the show of the most beautiful places in the Czech Republic in the framework of an exhibition of photographs, the organization of days of Czech cuisine and the presentation of modern Czech theater.

Do you plan to cooperate in education? What projects operate and what is planned to initiate?

Undoubtedly, bilateral ties in education will expand. Already, a number of universities in the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan are in talks about opportunities for collaboration, sharing draft protocols on cooperation, etc. The Embassy was keen to facilitate contacts between universities and to support specific projects of their joint work. This is our main task in this area.


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