Valdas Adamkus: "The number of letters in the word “GUAM” should be increased: it would consolidate both the organization and the participating countries"

- How can you characterize the intergovernmental relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania? What steps, do you think, should be taken to improve them?

- Today Lithuania and Azerbaijan are linked by close and friendly political, economic and cultural relations that we value very highly. Together we are working towards strengthening the GUAM organization, expanding contacts between the countries of the Baltic, Black and Caspian Sea regions, and making cooperation in the energy field more intense. I am confident that in the future we will further consolidate economic cooperation, increase investment flows, improve transport connections, and exchange cultural experience because we find each other interesting and unique. Needless to say: stronger ties between the European Union and Azerbaijan would contribute to an even more dynamic development of our bilateral relationship. I can assure you that Baku has a reliable ally in the European Union, and that is Lithuania.

- The fourth energy summit to be attended by Presidents of Ukraine, Turkey, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Georgia and other heads of states will kick off in Baku on November 14. Is it possible to say that today Baku has become a regional leader?

- I can state with full confidence that Azerbaijan is emerging as a regional leader. This is predetermined not only by the strategically important location of your country, but also by your resolve to pursue the course of reform and openness to the rest of the world. I am convinced that ever more intense relations between Azerbaijan and European Union and the ongoing democratic reforms will further strengthen your country and its role in the region.

- As is known, today Lithuania is seeking alternative projects in the sphere of energy supply. Which role can Azerbaijani oil play in this search?

- I am delighted that Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, and other countries are demonstrating remarkable political maturity and responsibility and that together they are set to diversify energy sources, thus contributing to improved energy security in the whole of Europe and its neighboring areas. In this respect, Azerbaijan plays a very important role as an energy supplier. I would like to underline that in the global world of the 21st century, those countries that jointly and concertedly address newly emerging challenges and problems will emerge as winners. Azerbaijan is building energy security through close cooperation with other countries and, therefore, Baku serves as an example to other countries in the region.

- Lithuania is demonstrating interest towards the TRASECA project, which must communicate Europe, Caucasus countries and Central Asia, bypassing Russia. Does it mean that thus your country is displaying interest in expansion of its export to Azerbaijan? When will it be possible to speak of the definite work for execution of this idea?

- The development of international transport corridors has a profound impact on the economies of every country in the corridor and the neighboring regions. The TRACECA corridor offers, first and foremost, alternative transportation options for countries suppliers, like China and India, for transit countries, like Georgia and Azerbaijan, and for countries consumers in Western Europe. The operating corridor will be used most efficiently by exporters from both Lithuania and Azerbaijan as a strategic multi-faceted project that has connections in the South Caucasus and Central Asian regions.

The extension of the trilateral Viking project (Lithuania-Belarus-Ukraine) would definitely promote the development of the TRACECA corridor. Viking is a cargo train linking the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. Azerbaijan, together with Turkey, has been invited to join this project. If your country becomes a partner in the Viking project, it will connect three sea regions: the Baltic Sea, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It would be the first time that such an ambitious project is realized.

- As is known, Lithuania intends to get an observer status under the TRASECA project. Will this issue be raised during Baku talks in the framework of the summit and is the reaction of the TRASECA secretariat to the intentions of the Lithuanian side clear?

- Since the TRACECA project is greatly important to Lithuania, we hope that a positive decision will be made as soon as in December this year.

- What does Azerbaijan mean for Lithuania? What do you think about further development of GUAM? Is it possible that Lithuania joins GUAM?

- GUAM contributes to the development of democracy, security and stability in the region; it helps the countries of the South Caucasus and the Black Sea regions to independently project their future: enhance their image across the world, strengthen transport and energy links, and improve the well-being of their people. Such projects as the transport corridor Europe-GUAM-Asia and the GUAM transit corridor are key to the economic growth of the entire region.

Lithuania is already distributing GUAM “business cards” among western countries: we have invited EU member states to establish a Group of GUAM Friends; high ranking Lithuanian officials participate in GUAM events; and six conferences of GUAM intellectuals were held in Vilnius under my patronage with many guests invited from Europe. This process must be continued. We have to use more actively the intellectual and cultural dimensions to improve GUAM’s visibility on the international arena. The number of letters in the word “GUAM” should be increased: it would consolidate both the organization and the participating countries.

- You are famous as an experienced political figure. How do you think should the Nagorno Karabakh conflict be settled: in the framework of the world recognized territorial integrity of Azerbaijan or on the basis of the right of people for self-determination? Lithuania speaks for the active participation of international mediators in the sphere of the resolution of the Karabakh conflict. Is Lithuania ready to contribute to this mission?

- Lithuania strongly supports and will support your efforts to peacefully settle the Nagorno-Karabakh problem. We stand for a solution which would best reflect the will and wishes of the participating countries and their citizens. Such a solution must be based on the universally recognized principles of international law as well as enhance security and stability in the region and beyond its boundaries.

With an optimism we follow recent developments in the region, especially the signed Declaration among the Presidents of Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation, on 2 November in Moscow. At the same time, we also want to stress a need to work closely with all parties involved, not only Russia. We believe that the US, Turkey, EU and OSCE can and must also play a crucial role in settlement the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh.

We strongly believe that the settlement of the conflict must be based upon Madrid Principles, notably, the deployment of international peacekeepers and withdrawal of Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh forces. If such a settlement is reached, Lithuania would be ready to consider contributing to possible international presence in Nagorno-Karabakh as well as supporting other confidence-building measures.

- Which assistance can Lithuania provide in Azerbaijan’s integration to the European Union? Which experience can Azerbaijan assimilate from Lithuania on the way of EU accession?

- Lithuania strongly supports your country’s aspirations for developing qualitatively new and more dynamic relations with the European Union. It is the best way to promote sustainable development and to create a prosperous Azerbaijan.

Lithuania has successfully carried through the required reforms on the path to the European Union. Today, we willingly share our experience with friends in Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, and Azerbaijan. We are ready to communicate our experience gained in other fields as well: Lithuania could help Azerbaijan harmonize its legal framework, tailoring it towards simplified border crossing procedures and facilitated trading. We operate an efficient cargo train Viking which crosses the external EU-Belarus border in only 30 minutes – a record time in the whole of the European Union.

/Day.Az/