After the Second Karabakh War, demining work in the liberated Azerbaijani territories became a key area of government policy. The mine threat is a major problem for rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, as well as for the return of former IDPs to their homes. According to the reports of international experts, Azerbaijan will need about 30 years and $25 billion to solve the mine problem. In this regard, any assistance from international organizations and states can be useful and timely. Sweden also has an interest in developing cooperation in the field of demining.
Swedish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Tobias Lorentzson spoke in an interview with Report about the development of bilateral relations, cooperation in the field of green energy between Sweden and Azerbaijan, cultural ties and assistance in the field of mine clearance.
How do you assess the bilateral cooperation between Sweden and Azerbaijan and could you please tell us about cooperation within the framework of the EU, OSCE and the Eastern Partnership program? What measures are being taken to improve contacts between the countries?
The bilateral relations between Sweden and Azerbaijan are developing and were further enhanced in 2020 when both countries upgraded their presence in our respective capitals to full-fledged embassies with resident Ambassadors. There are regular high-level contacts between our two countries, and last year the Embassy of Sweden in Baku celebrated 30 years of diplomatic bilateral relations with a series of cultural events.
During the first half of 2023, Sweden is holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union. Sweden’s priorities for the presidency can be summarized as making Europe safer, freer and greener. It’s about security, competitiveness, green and energy transitions, democratic values and the rule of law, with a particular focus on continued support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression. As part of these priorities, developing well-adapted formats for interaction with the countries in the Eastern Partnership, including Azerbaijan, is high on our agenda. This is about deepening relations of the Partnership countries with the EU, including by strengthening the security dimension.
Sweden will also continue to support EU’s active engagement aimed at contributing to sustainable peace in the region, and we hope to see progress in the negotiations on the new framework agreement between EU and Azerbaijan. Our focus on the green transition is of particular relevance to Azerbaijan, not least in light of the MoU signed last year between the EU and Azerbaijan in the field of energy, including green energy. In April, the Embassy organised a seminar on EU-Azerbaijan relations at ADA University and with the participation of Deputy Foreign Minister Mammad-Guliyev, the Eastern Partnership Ambassadors of Sweden and the EU, as well as of Swedish and Azerbaijani think tanks.
In 2021, Sweden held the Chairpersonship of the OSCE, which meant intensified relations with Azerbaijan within the framework of that organisation, including through a visit of our former foreign minister to Azerbaijan in her capacity as Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE.
Could you please tell us about economic cooperation? How many Swedish companies are represented in Azerbaijan? What is the volume of trade turnover between the countries? How do you evaluate the cooperation in healthcare and pharmaceutical industries? How would you comment on cooperation in the field of IT? We know that Sweden is a leader in the EU in the development of renewable energy sources (RES), and Azerbaijan also prioritizes renewable development. In this context is cooperation on energy and renewables expected between Sweden and Azerbaijan?
There is a steady flow of goods between Sweden and Azerbaijan, and there is a lot of potential for increased economic bilateral cooperation. Some ten Swedish companies are represented in Azerbaijan, including Ericsson (mobile network solutions), Oriflame (cosmetics), Volvo (vehicles), SKF (bearings), Assa Abloy (door opening solutions) and Systemair (ventilation solutions). With the increasing role of Azerbaijan in the development of the Middle Corridor, I am convinced that more Swedish companies will see Azerbaijan as interesting trade partner. The Embassy is exploring the possibilities for Swedish smart city solutions to be applied in Azerbaijan, including through the visit of a delegation from relevant state actors to Stockholm. The health sector is also a promising area where there is interest from Swedish health providers to cooperate with Azerbaijan. The return football match in November in Baku between Sweden and Azerbaijan for Euro 2024 will be a good opportunity to promote our bilateral relations, including by bringing together Swedish and Azerbaijani business.
What could you say about the cultural cooperation between the countries?
Sweden and Azerbaijan have a common history creating strong bonds between our countries. Here I am referring to the heritage of the Nobel brothers in Baku. It is difficult to overstate the importance of this shared heritage for our bilateral relations. 2023 marks 150 years since Robert Nobel first came to Azerbaijan, and this will be celebrated through different events, including the publication in Azerbaijani of a book about the Nobel brothers and the presentation of a documentary on the same topic. The Nobel legacy is multifaceted. The Nobel brothers were not only at the forefront of innovation, but were also pioneers in what we today would call corporate social responsibility. In Azerbaijan, the Branobel oil company invested in education, culture, social welfare and equality for their workers, which in turn promoted innovation, productivity and competitiveness.
Also, there is a long-standing and very fruitful cooperation between Azerbaijani artists and Swedish songwriters, not least for the Eurovision Song Contest. This successful collaboration started in 2008 and includes the song performed by Ell and Nikki that won the Eurovision in 2011.
As far as the educational sphere is concerned, I am proud to say we have a large number of young and talented Azerbaijanis studying in Swedish universities every year, including through grants provided by the Swedish institute. The Sweden Students and Alumni Network Azerbaijan is very active and plays a crucial role in bringing Sweden and Azerbaijan closer to each other, in every respect, just as the Young European Ambassadors do at an EU level.
What other prospects of cooperation, in your opinion, should we enhance?
The Embassy of Sweden in Baku is putting a particular focus on gender equality and de-mining. Azerbaijan was one of the first countries in the world to grant voting rights to women in 1918 and gender-related issues are an important focus for the Swedish government. Building on this common history and shared ambitions, the Embassy is cooperating with state actors, international organisations, civil society and artists in Azerbaijan to further women’s rights. The International Women’s Day, but also the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in November, are important opportunities for continued advocacy and dialogue.
There is also a mutual interest in developing cooperation in the field of de-mining. The Swedish de-mining agency Swedec has initiated a dialogue with ANAMA on possible joint action, and has participated in conferences on de-mining organised in Baku.