KING OF JORDAN ABDULLAH II TO VISIT AZERBAIJAN ON MAY 15
APA
May 13 2010
Azerbaijan
Ambassador Elman Arasli: "A Memorandum of Understanding and agreement
on youth cooperation will be signed between the two countries during
the visit"
Amman. Rashad Suleymanov, Shaig Mammadov – APA. Azerbaijani Ambassador
to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Elman Arasli’s interview to APA
-How do you evaluate current state of Azerbaijan-Jordan relations? What
are prospective spheres of the cooperation between the countries?
-Azerbaijan-Jordan relations have been dynamically developed in
the past four years. Leaders of both countries are interested in
the development of relations. King Abdullah visited Azerbaijan for
two times. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has also visited the
Kingdom of Jordan. King Abdullah is expected to pay his third visit to
Azerbaijan on May 15. First of all, political relations are developed
between the countries. The Jordanian leadership is univocally
supporting Azerbaijan in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. Jordan
condemns Armenia’s aggression and demands immediate and unconditional
withdrawal from the occupied lands. It defends Azerbaijan’s position
at the international organizations, including UN, the Organization of
the Islamic Conference. One of the avenues in Amman was named after
the late president Heydar Aliyev. There is an intensive exchange
of delegations between the countries. More than 30 agreements of
cooperation were signed between the countries. Two more agreements
are expected to be signed during the King’s visit.
-What agreements are expected to be signed?
-A Memorandum of Understanding about the international cooperation
between the governments of Azerbaijan and Jordan and draft agreement
on youth cooperation between the Ministry of Youth and Sports of
Azerbaijan and Supreme Youth Council of Jordan will be signed during
the visit.
-Does the Jordanian community know Azerbaijan?
-Today Jordan-Azerbaijan Friendship Society is working in Amman. Former
deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers and incumbent senator
is leading the Society. But our relations are not in an official
level. Azerbaijani Diaspora established its commission. The Society
has its office here. They gather in the office to exchange ideas
and to hold parties and exhibitions dedicated to Azerbaijan. "Soviet
Azerbaijan", a book written by the late president of Azerbaijan Heydar
Aliyev, who was one of the USSR leaders in 1980s, was translated into
Arabic and published in Amman. It is an indication of Jordan’s interest
to Azerbaijan and they know Azerbaijan here in Jordan. The newspapers
and television make reporting about Azerbaijan almost every week.
-What can you say about the economic relations? Is there increase or
decrease in the trade turnover?
-The economic relations are improving. There is a separate
agreement about it, meetings are held regularly. Intergovernmental
commission was set up. The first meeting was held in Amman. The
second meeting is planned for the second half of this year in
Baku. Several business forums have been held for the development of
the economic relations. About 15 Jordanian companies are functioning
in Azerbaijan. Days of Azerbaijani Culture will be held in Amman
in the second half of this year. Late in May Deputy Minister of
Culture and Tourism Adalat Valiyev will come to Amman to discuss
the preparations. The trade turnover between the countries is not
so big. But there is progress. For example, last year the trade
turnover increased by 43%. From this year Azerbaijan has begun to
import vegetables and fruit from Jordan. Jordan is interested in
importing cattle, small cattle from Azerbaijan.
-Azerbaijan has participated in SOFEX exhibition in Amman and
demonstrated its defense products. What can you say about the
cooperation in this field?
-There is cooperation in the military sphere and participation in
this exhibition is the result of this cooperation. A joint commission
has been established for military cooperation. Two meetings of the
commission were held in Amman and Baku. The recent meeting was held in
Baku in April. The representatives of Azerbaijan’s military structures
regularly visit Amman.
-Several months ago, when Azerbaijan and Syria were holding gas talks,
the Syrian media wrote if Azerbaijan’s gas is transported to Syria
through Turkey it can also be transported to Jordan. Have any talks
been held in this field?
-There is nothing serious in this field. The sides exchanged views. But
it is not right to say something since there are no real results.