In recent years, bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia have improved significantly and reached a new level of partnership. The two countries are actively working to strengthen economic and political ties, which contributes to mutually beneficial cooperation.
Belgrade and Baku support each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity and take into account the initiatives put forward by both countries within the framework of international organizations. Both countries are also involved in joint projects in the field of renewable energy sources.
Serbia is interested in ensuring its energy security and diversifying sources of energy supplies, and Azerbaijan, in turn, having significant oil and gas reserves, is a key player in the global energy market. In an interview with Report, Serbian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Dragan Vladisavljevic spoke about the prospects for further development of bilateral cooperation.
How do you assess the current level of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Serbia?
Azerbaijani-Serbian relations, raised to the level of strategic partnership in 2013, are characterized by stable, friendly ties, based on mutual respect, understanding and support, with no open issues and with a tendency for continuous development. These ties and like-mindedness have been most noticeable on a political level since our two countries share the same foreign policy principles and positions.
As small countries, but only in terms of their territories, both Serbia and Azerbaijan pursue independent, neutral foreign policy, with political independence and military neutrality being some of its main proclaimed goals. This policy is based on vital national interests, such as the preservation of our territorial integrity and sovereignty, as well as fulfilling all our development potentials. Here I must underline the significance of Azerbaijani support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and its firm stance regarding non-recognition of the so-called Kosovo state. The uncompromising struggle for the preservation of our sovereignty and territorial integrity in Kosovo and Metohija and the safety and survival of Serbs who live in the province has remained our paramount national interest, the number one priority of our foreign policy and at the same time one of our greatest challenges.
Just like Azerbaijan, Serbia cherishes the principles of international law, enshrined not only in the UN Charter but also in the NAM founding documents, which all build their faith in a better and just world on principles of peaceful coexistence, sovereign equality of nations and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
In practice, these foreign policy fundaments mean maintaining good relations with both East and West, or more specifically, maintaining good relations with the EU and, in the case of Serbia, striving to its full membership, having good relations with the US as one of the most influential global powers, while simultaneously continuing partnership with the People’s Republic of China. Our countries also have similar positions in terms of their relations with Russia and Ukraine, both of whom we consider friendly and fraternal countries and peoples.
In parallel, our countries adhere to their military neutrality and refrain from joining any international military organization or alliance.
Also, both Serbia and Azerbaijan remain committed to promoting regional cooperation and good neighborly relations and preserving peace and cooperation as a basis for mutual relations.
Apart from close political ties, our cooperation grows in many other spheres, such as defense, energy, social affairs, and culture.
What are your thoughts on deepening cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia in the economy and investment? In which areas do you believe two countries should further expand their cooperation?
Although our firm political relations provide a solid ground for a developed and fruitful economic cooperation, we cannot, nevertheless, be completely satisfied in this context, which is why both sides are striving towards initiating or expanding cooperation in various economic areas. I am sure that the upcoming session of our joint Intergovernmental Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, which is to take place in Baku in July, will be more result-oriented and bring us closer to our aim. It will focus on the most promising areas of cooperation - energy, transport, construction, trade, and defense. With reference to that, one of the priorities will certainly be the operationalization of a direct flight between our two capitals, as it would give a much-needed impetus to all other areas of interaction.
When it comes to investments, there are almost none. Azerbaijan offered, on its part, investment opportunities within the potentials of AFEZ and projects in the liberated territories, while the Serbian side offers the possibility of investing in various fields of our economy, primarily agriculture, construction, modern technologies and, of course, defense industry. On that note, I would like to recall that Azerbaijani construction company “AzVirt” has been engaged in road infrastructure projects in Serbia, funded by our Government, totaling up to one billion USD so far.
On the other hand, Serbian companies have great interest, as well as the necessary capacity, to engage in the process of reconstruction and revitalization of Azerbaijani liberated lands. Our Embassy and numerous Serbian officials, including President Vučić, have informed the Azerbaijani side thereof. This refers not only to construction companies but also to those dealing in agriculture and smart technologies. However, I am afraid that we lack clear information as to the planned projects and the process of application, which is why no Serbian company has yet had the opportunity to get into the Azerbaijani market. Nevertheless, the Embassy of Serbia keeps in touch with competent Azerbaijani institutions, in order to enable the possibility of engagement of Serbian companies in this process.
Another potential aspect of our cooperation may be connected with our countries’ hosting of various international events. Azerbaijan has proven itself to be an extraordinary organizer and host of various international events, which not only turns the country into an important factor in the international community but also gives a strong impulse to its internal development. The most illustrative example is certainly the upcoming COP29 which is an obvious catalyst for improvement both in Azerbaijani capital and in its society. This global event will gather heads of state and governments from all over the world, including Serbian President Vucic.
In the same way, Serbia is preparing to host Specialized World Exhibition EXPO 2027, and to that aim has initiated a new investment cycle, the so-called ''Leap into the Future'', focused on key segments of overall development of Serbia, including plans to raise the standard of living, accelerate modernization in terms of IT, AI and biotechnologies, improve transport, education and healthcare infrastructure, speed up industrialization and integrated development of the country on a local and regional level. This ambitious plan offers an opportunity for the involvement of foreign partners as well, especially from friendly countries such as Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan and Serbia signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation in defense. Could you please collaborate? I understand that you cannot provide more details considering sensitivity, but maybe you can do that to some extent. Are there plans for technology and other form of exchange between the two sides? What prospects are opened for the further rapprochement of defense departments due to the signed agreement?
As already mentioned, the Republic of Serbia remains devoted to the policy of military neutrality, without aspirations of becoming a part of any international military organization or alliance. However, it is also painfully aware of current conflicts and security challenges on a global level, and the necessity of maintaining a strong, well-trained army, primarily as a form of deterrence against any ill-wishers. I am sure that Azerbaijan, more than other countries, can relate to this position. For that reason, both of our countries continue to invest in their military and defense industries and expand their cooperation in this sector.
Even though this field of cooperation has been active for many years now, it was the meetings between our leaders that drew attention to the advantages of intensifying and expanding this form of partnership, especially in the light of common need to supply and modernize our armed forces in the aforementioned circumstances of growing security challenges on a global level. In that context, the two sides have agreed on intensifying trade in the field of defense industry, investing in new production facilities and joint production, joint break into third-party countries' markets, transfer of technology, and all other aspects of military-technical cooperation. To this aim, both of our countries have opened resident Defense Attache Offices in Belgrade and Baku, tasked with actively contributing to the smooth interaction of our defense sectors. Furthermore, active contacts and exchange of visits, such as the recent visits of our Defense Minister to Baku and your Chief of General Staff to Belgrade also give an impetus to the implementation of the said plans and projects.
With the opening of the Serbia-Bulgaria interconnector Serbia was able to diversify its gas supply sources. How will it support Serbia’s energy security? What is the share of gas from the Caspian in Serbia’s energy market? Which areas of the economy is it covering, only households or the commercial sector also?
Currently valid gas purchase agreement between SOCAR and ''Srbijagas'' provides for the import of 400 mcm of Azerbaijani gas to Serbia per year, with the possibility of increasing this amount in the future up to 1bcm per year, which is one-third of Serbia’s total consumption. Under the current global circumstances, which force us to treat energy security as a vital segment of a country’s national security, as President Aliyev wisely put it, Azerbaijani energy resources represent more than valuable means of diversification of our energy supply.
Our current legal basis in this field, however, provides for other forms of energy cooperation as well, such as exploring the possibility of cooperation in terms of LNG, SOCAR's participation in the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Serbia, as well as the possibility of Azerbaijani investment in the construction of a new gas storage infrastructure in Serbia. In addition, our country is also considering the possibility of joint cooperation within the so-called green corridor project that Azerbaijan has initiated with Georgia, Romania, and Hungary.
How would you assess cultural and educational ties between countries?
Culture and education are also areas in which one can observe similarities between Serbian and Azerbaijani societies and their cultural and historical background. First of all, both of our societies and countries nurture traditional family values, together with values of tolerance, multiculturalism, and coexistence of all national, religious, and other communities living in our countries. On those common grounds, it is easy to develop cultural and educational ties.
Apart from a number of cultural events aimed at bringing our two peoples closer and presenting our cultural and historic heritage, one of the biggest steps made towards broadening our cultural ties and connecting people is certainly the establishment of a sister city relationship between Azerbaijan’s Shusha and Serbia’s Novi Pazar. It is planned that similar documents be signed with two other Serbian cities. Besides, we expect further expansion of this type of cooperation with the formation of our new Government and the appointment of a new Minister of Culture who is, at the same time, the co-chair of our Intergovernmental Commission.
As far as our cooperation in the area of education is concerned, I can proudly point out our two language centers - the Center for the Serbian Language and Culture, functioning within the Azerbaijani University of Languages, and the Center for the Azerbaijani Language, working within the Faculty of Philology of the University of Belgrade. In addition to that, each year, within the "World in Serbia" scholarship program, Serbia provides several scholarships for Azerbaijani students wishing to complete their graduate or postgraduate studies in our country.