Ambassador: UAE-Azerbaijan relations keep on a steady rise - INTERVIEW

Report's interview with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Arab Emirates to Azerbaijan Mr. Mohamed Ahmed Alqubais:

- How do you assess Azerbaijan's fight against COVID-19?

- Azerbaijan demonstrates an exemplary fight against coronavirus. The World Health Organization and several European countries highly appreciate the measures taken in the country to battle this scourge. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva took control of the situation since the first day of the threat. Thanks to them, Azerbaijan is actually at the forefront in the fight against coronavirus. The country also became a role model by allocating 1 billion manats to eliminate the possible adverse effects of the pandemic on the country's economy, business sector, and employment.

Moreover, on the initiative of Azerbaijani President, chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ilham Aliyev, an online Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement Contact Group in response to COVID-19 took place under the motto "United against COVID-19". In the conference, the President noted that Azerbaijan provided an additional $5 million to the World Health Organization. Moreover, Azerbaijan has demonstrated solidarity at the global and international levels by handing out coronavirus aid to many countries.

- How did the pandemic affect the economic relations between the two countries? (recent economic indicators, trade turnover, etc.) Recently, the economic ties between the two countries developed significantly in the tourism sector as well. What measures can the countries take to cooperate in making progress in this area in the post-pandemic period?

- The ties between the UAE and Azerbaijan keep on a steady rise. These relations are not only limited to trade. Our leadership and peoples continuously support each other, guided by the principles of sincere brotherhood. The pandemic period is no exception. Undoubtedly, this challenging time leaves its mark in terms of health and safety precautions. Nevertheless, thanks to the right policy by both the UAE and the Azerbaijani state, we believe, all sectors of the economy will revive in the post-pandemic phase, and tourists will once again enjoy the hospitality.

- At times of the COVID-19 pandemic, oil prices are falling, and crises observed in the market. As an oil exporter, what is the UAE doing to prevent it?

- The UAE is committed to the OPEC + agreement. We are working with partner countries to overcome these hard times. Against the backdrop of COVID-19, we are taking measures to rebalance the oil market, taking into account both the current and future periods.

The Ambassador also spoke about the measures taken in his country to combat the coronavirus, noting that the UAE has provided humanitarian assistance to more than 64 countries worldwide to battle the infection.

So far, the UAE has confirmed 42, 636 COVID-19 cases, and nearly 300 related fatalities.