Trends exclusive interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Dimitrij Rupel
Question: How do you estimate the current level of cooperation? What are your visions on new perspectives of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Slovenia?
Answer: The relations between our two countries are very good. However, we feel that there is still room for further strengthening the scope and intensity of our relations and mutual dialogue. Political contacts at the highest political levels were intensified in 2005, when Slovenia was chairing the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. I as Chairman-in-Office visited Azerbaijan two times and had very constructive in-depth talks with representatives of Azerbaijan. I also hosted the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mammadyarov at the OSCE Ministerial Council held in December last year in Ljubljana. Of course, during these visits, there was not much time left for discussion on bilateral issues and practical cooperation between Slovenia and Azerbaijan. However, the representatives of Slovenian enterprises joined me in one of my visits last year. The business forum organized for this purpose and the bilateral meetings with their Azerbaijani counterparts offered an opportunity to strengthen the existing cooperation and make new contacts that will hopefully result in concrete projects and business opportunities. We see many possible areas of future business co-operation, especially in the fields of building industry and construction.
Question: What issues will be on agenda of talks during the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's forthcoming official visit to Slovenia in August 2006?
Answer: The planned official visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Slovenia will be a good opportunity for further deepening of political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Slovenia in bilateral as well as multilateral spheres of cooperation. The visit will also offer an important opportunity to review all areas of cooperation and identify those that are of highest interest to our countries. We also expect to exchange views on the broad spectrum of current international affairs and global security challenges.
In preparing the bright outlook of our future bilateral relationship we can also touch upon our historical ties that are most powerfully embodied through the life and death of the national hero of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Mehdi Huseyn-zadeh, who together with Slovenian fighters struggled against fascism during the World War II, was fatally wounded and is buried on Slovenian soil in a small village of Vitovlje near the town of Nova Gorica. Historical ties of such personal sacrifices should not be easily forgotten and could form a solid foundation for the future development of excellent bilateral relations between Slovenia and Azerbaijan.
As you are already aware President Aliyev will participate at the conference "Caspian Outlook 2008" that is being organized by Slovenia on 27 and 28 August as the first in the series of events in the framework of Bled Strategic Forum. The Forum is conceptualized as a forum for promoting high-level strategic dialogue among leaders (both from private and public sectors) on key issues - regional and thematic - which Europe of the 21st century will be confronted with. It intends to generate political momentum and attract political commitments for implementation of new strategies designed to allow Europe to better use its strategic weight and space. The Forum will at the same time offer a platform for cooperation between the private and public sectors aimed at developing common integrated approaches to resolving outstanding issues and efficiently tackling new challenges.
As I mentioned before, the first in the series of international events will be the international conference entitled "Caspian Outlook 2008". The aim of the conference is to discuss the geopolitical relevance of the Caspian region for the European Union both from the economic, political and strategic perspectives. Invited to participate are top international experts, political leaders, representatives from relevant international organizations and the private sector from the Caspian region, Europe, the United States, the Russian Federation and beyond. By the same token, the event will contribute to the preparation of the Slovenian EU Presidency in the first half of 2008, in the framework of which energy security, European Neighbourhood Policy and enlargement are identified as priorities of the Slovenian Presidency.
Question: What assistance could Slovenia render to Azerbaijan in the expansion of relations with the European Union and NATO?
Answer: We understand that the expansion of relations with the EU and NATO is one of strategic aims of Azerbaijan. Slovenia can, as a relatively new member to both organizations, offer advice based on its own experience. The strengthening of relationship between our countries could offer good opportunities for more in-depth consultations in all matters relating to expansion of Azerbaijan's relations with European Union and NATO. We also welcome the political and economic reforms that are being implemented in Azerbaijan and note that Slovenia has already offered its experience and assistance in the field of civil registry in Azerbaijan.
Question: Does Slovenia support territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? Can Slovenia come out with initiatives on the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?
Answer: During the OSCE Chairmanship in 2005 I was fully involved in the efforts of the OSCE in finding a resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As OSCE Chairman-in-Office I visited the region two times and tried to accommodate sides for a possible solution. Slovenia, as part of the OSCE Troika, is still very much engaged in the resolution of this long-standing conflict and we still try to give our best to help the sides reach an agreement acceptable to all. I fully support the activities of the Co-chairs of the Minsk Group and of Ambassador Kasprzyk. I still hope that an agreement could be found and that the window of opportunity will not be closed without at least some progress in 2006. Slovenia continues to stand ready to assist the sides and to play a role of an honest broker in order to move forward and to overcome the deadlock to the benefit of the people.
Question: In what spheres of Azerbaijani economy do Slovenian investors take interest?
Answer: In 2005 the trade between the two countries amounted to only 5 million euro (exports from Slovenia amounted to app. 2.2 million and imports to Slovenia to app. 2.8 million euro). The majority of goods exported from Slovenia to Azerbaijan are pharmaceuticals. There are possibilities for increasing the amount of trade between our countries. We hope that Slovene companies will seize the opportunity and increase trade and investment in Azerbaijan. Every opportunity should be seized to present the business opportunities and investment climate in Azerbaijan in order to successfully promote economic cooperation. I believe that business cooperation could be enhanced in the field of building industry and construction as well as in commercial sector.
Question: Is Slovenia interested in import of Azerbaijani energy?
Answer: Slovenia recognizes Azerbaijan as one of the future key energy producers and important transit country for energy supplies from Caspian Basin and Central Asia to the EU. The completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline makes it possible for large volumes of crude oil to be brought to the doorstep of EU. Also, the possible transit of natural gas from the Caspian Basin to the EU is high on our agenda. Slovenia, a member of the European Union, is interested in strengthening the partnership between EU and Azerbaijan, also in the field of energy, especially in the light of conclusions of the March and June European Councils which underlined the importance of enhancing the EU - Azerbaijan relationship in the energy sector.