AZERBAIJANI AMBASSADOR TO SWITZERLAND: SWITZERLAND IS A COUNTRY REALIZING AZERBAIJAN’S INCREASING ROLE IN THE REGION
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
May 29 2007
Azerbaijani Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary ambassador to Switzerland
Elchin Emirbeyov interviewed by the APA
– How do you appreciate the current state of Azerbaijan-Switzerland
relations?
– Azerbaijan-Switzerland relations are developing rapidly within the
recent two years. Our embassy opened in this country in October, 2005
and it gave impetus to the development of the relations between the
two countries. Ex-Foreign Minister, present president of Switzerland
Michelin Calmy-Rey visited Azerbaijan in February last year and four
bilateral important agreements were signed on economic and juridical
spheres. Presidents of Azerbaijan and Switzerland met in Davos late
in January this year and debated on bilateral relations. It should
be noted that embassy of Switzerland is planned to be opened in Baku.
Swiss government passed a decision basing on our proposal to open Baku
office of the embassy in Ankara, charge d’affaires heads the office
at present. Switzerland realizes increasing role of Azerbaijan in the
region, they want to review the issue on physical representation of
Switzerland in the region and understand that the embassy once opened
in Tbilisi can not cover all three countries.
– What concrete steps are expected for the further development of
the relations between the two countries?
– Azerbaijan and Switzerland will have debates on political and
security issues this year. Both Azerbaijan and Switzerland intend to
exchange views on the countries’ geostrategic importance and role in
international processes. We do our best to organize high-level visits
from Switzerland to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Switzerland by
the year-end. Besides, a lot of events will be organized in cultural
sphere in 2007-2008.
– Are you satisfied with the current state of economic relations
between Azerbaijan and Switzerland?
– Trade turnover between the two countries was $ 28,000mln. last year,
this figure beat $ 100mln. this year. This increase was not due to
the cooperation in energy sphere. Switzerland does not buy oil and
gas from us. Switzerland is one of our greatest investors in non-oil
sector. Swiss Holcim Company runs OJSC Garadagh-Sement. Switzerland is
getting more informed about Azerbaijan, its economy, Swiss businessmen
get interested in Azerbaijan and the conditions allow them investing
in this country. It has positive influence on the economy of both
countries.
– You have also been accredited as Ambassador to several international
organizations and the Holy See. Vatican’s Secretary of State is
expected to participate in the opening ceremony of newly built
church. When will this visit take place?
– Bilateral relations with Vatican are developing quickly. In this
context the erection of new Catholic Church is very important and both
Azerbaijan and Vatican is interested in the high level of organization
of the ceremony. This issue is being discussed both by our Embassy
and Vatican nuncio to Azerbaijan. Two sides are interested in the
representation of high ranking Vatican officials in the ceremony. At
the present time we discuss to hold the ceremony in November. We
want Vatican’s second person, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary
of State to take part in the forthcoming meeting. If he will not be
able to visit Azerbaijan we then consult with Azerbaijan side the
visit of cardinal responsible for culture and interreligious affairs.
Another option stays on newly appointed foreign minister He is
interested to visit Azerbaijan. The date of the visit is being
concretized now.
– Do you cooperate with Azerbaijan Diaspora in Switzerland?
– We do not have many compatriots in Switzerland. Here the number of
Azerbaijanis does not increase some hundred people. The number of
Azerbaijani students has increased here recently which is positive
indicator. Azerbaijanis receive education in popular universities
and colleges and at secondary schools. This let us to participate
in the daily intellectual life of Switzerland. Most of Switzerland
Azerbaijanis have come here from Igdir province of Turkey and Iran.
We as Embassy invite them to different meetings facilitating
communication between them.
– Are there many Azerbaijanis applying Switzerland government for
refugee status?
– There were many Azerbaijanis applying for refugee status recently.
Federal Migration service requested us to provide assistance them.
Azerbaijanis presenting themselves as Armenian were asked by our
consul workers whether they are Azerbaijanis or people trying
to receive refugee status illegally. Rightist parties have huge
influence in Switzerland and they do not want Switzerland to become
US. They appreciate is as a threat for Switzerland nation. That is
why migration to S3itzerland has stopped recently. The number of
Azerbaijanis illegally resided in Switzerland is five times less that
those from Armenian and Georgia. Azerbaijan and Switzerland do not
have serious problems in this field.