Azerbaijan-Italy ties reach strategic partnership

By Sara Rajabova - AzerNews 

AzerNews presents an exclusive interview with Mr. Giampaolo Cutillo, Italian Ambassador to Baku.

Question: How do you assess current level of relations between Azerbaijan and Italy?

Ambassador Giampaolo Cutillo: We are very satisfied about these relations, which have reached the level of strategic partnership thanks to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visits to Rome last year. He has been twice to Italy -- in 2014 and 2015. He had the meetings with our president, prime minister. This is the base of much wider cooperation in all fields. So, we defined it as a strategic partnership.

Q.: The two countries successfully cooperate in energy field. Which other areas have the potential for developing cooperation in the future?

A.: Energy cooperation is the cornerstone of our cooperation, but it is not only energy, it is much more than that. In the economic field, many Italian companies are more and more present in Azerbaijan and our export is increasing.

Particularly, an important sphere of cooperation is cultural cooperation. So, we have seen in the last few years, a very active and wise cultural policy from Azerbaijan in Italy.

Both the Ministry of Culture and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation have been present in many high-level cultural events in Italy like for example, the Milano’s Expo Pavilion, which has been set up in the city. President Aliyev visited the expo last July. This has been considered as one of the expo’s most beautiful and interesting pavilions.

From our side, we are also trying to have an Italian president here. I would say so many people, who are visiting Azerbaijan from Italy almost on a daily basis in all sectors and including of course culture. So that has to do with relations between universities, intellectuals, academicians and etc.

So, we have organized a number of events in Baku, also as an embassy in the field of cinema for example, and music, arts. One of the examples was the Baku Canta Napoli concert that was held on September 25. This was one of the many events that were organized in recent months.

Q.: Is Italy satisfied with business and trade relations between Azerbaijan and Italy?

A.: We are very much satisfied with these relations. Just let me give some figures. Azerbaijan has been Italy's main provider of oil in the last two years. At the same time, we are the main customer for Azerbaijan.

Also, our export to Azerbaijan has increased threefold. In 2011, it was as little as two hundred million euro, but in 2014 we reached six hundred million euro. Figures for 2015 will increase again. So, these are just few numbers, which let us understand the importance of these relations.

Q.: What is Italy’s position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and also what you can say about the so-called ‘elections’ in the self-governing bodies of the separatist regime in the occupied territories?

A.: Italy’s position is clear on that -- we do not recognize the so-called “Nagorno-Karabakh Republic” and of course when you do not recognize it as a government, then you cannot recognize the elections.

At the same time, I know personally from experience in this country that is a painful and important issue for Azerbaijan, for which I feel very sympathetic towards the people of Azerbaijan. We believe that there must be a peaceful solution.

Of course, Italy and the European Union support international efforts in trying to solve this painful issue. As you know, there is the Minsk Group with co-chairing of three countries -- France, the United States, and Russia. There has been a decision by the parties, Armenia and Azerbaijan, to ask this group to facilitate the solution of the conflict. We support the efforts of the Minsk Group.

Q.: Are there any plans for Italian officials to visit Azerbaijan in the near future?

A.: I have no information about the specific visit, which is confirmed. But we will have a big event very soon, on October 10. The Italian national football team is planning to come to play in Baku. We are all looking forward to this event.

We will try to build a couple of promotional events. That will also be a pleasant surprise for the Azerbaijani public.