Baku and Kyiv do not use existing development potential to fullest extent

Relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan have long-term deep traditions, former deputy of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine Maksym Kuryachyy said in an interview with Report.

He was commenting on the 102nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries.

"Back in 1919-1920, the Special Diplomatic Mission of the Ukrainian People’s Republic to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic carried out its activities in Baku. The Mission of the Ukrainian People’s Republic was then one of the 16 diplomatic missions of foreign states that functioned in Baku in those years, which is vivid evidence of traditionally friendly historical ties between our countries, but this was a short period in our relations," he noted.

"During the years of the USSR’s existence, although our relations developed, they were subordinated to a single template, were managed and controlled from a single Moscow center," he said.

"The situation has changed dramatically after our countries regained their independence. We began to build our relations on a new basis as sovereign powers. The personal contacts between the leaders of the two countries, which were initiated by the meetings of Presidents Heydar Aliyev and Leonid Kuchma, were of great importance," Kuryachyy noted.

"Assessing the current level of relations between Ukraine and Azerbaijan, I would say that they are on the rise, but they are still far from fully using the existing potential for their development," the ex-deputy said.

Speaking about priorities bilateral cooperation priorities, he reminded that more than a year had passed since the visit of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to Baku in December 2019. Then several agreements were signed, including a deal on the opening of the Trade House of Ukraine in Azerbaijan; trade and economic agreements were signed between Ukraine’s Odesa and Azerbaijani Ganja, as well as between the Ukrainian city of Truskavets and the Azerbaijani Guba; to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector and several others.

"These were important steps to develop our relations, but, from my point of view, they are already insufficient in the context of the changes that took place last year. Azerbaijan has made a truly historic breakthrough. We need to develop and build up economic and military-technical clusters in relations with Azerbaijan," Kuryachyy noted.

He added that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Ukraine is about $1 billion, and it has been at this level for quite a long time.

"I repeat that this is completely insufficient given our potentials, new challenges, and, at the same time, new opportunities for bilateral relations. We need to step forward and up with confidence. There are many areas of mutual interests and opportunities, first of all, the fuel and energy complex. Ukrainian refineries receive two-thirds of oil from Azerbaijan. There are good prospects in the development of ties in the dairy and meat industries, chemistry, pharmacology," he noted.

The former MP stressed that the COVID pandemic had already made irreversible changes in world politics and affected cooperation between the countries.

"The coronavirus has dealt a serious blow to tourism, education (about 10,000 Azerbaijani students study in Ukraine), cultural ties, development of business contacts. I believe that discussion and adjustment of our ties in the context of these changes would be necessary. The main thing is the presence of a political will. After all, those who want changes are looking for ways to solve the problem and are focused on results," he said.