Baku 21° C
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Baku. 20 October. REPORT.AZ/ Interview of Report with Romāns Naudiņš, the chairman of the Economic, Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Policy Committee of Latvian Saeima, deputy chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Friendship group with Azerbaijan.
- What is the current level of bilateral relations between Latvia and Azerbaijan? Recently there have been made several official visits. Implementation of which political, economic and other projects is expected following these visits?
- Today the level of relations is very good. I think relations have never been bad. We can only improve the relations, the relation between Azerbaijan and Latvia are very friendly. It can be seen from mutual visits. The speaker of Latvian parliament paid a visit to Azerbaijan last year and there was a return visit of Azerbaijani speaker to Latvia. Afterwards, president Ilham Aliyev visited Latvia, with several ministers who carried out their work by sector. It was very important event for Latvia when president Ilham Aliyev visited our country.
- How would you describe the current level of energy partnership between Azerbaijan and Europe?
- Azerbaijan is an important energy partner for Europe. Azerbaijan develops huge energy projects which I think, is right in terms of strategy as the southern part of Europe needs energy resources mainly gas and oil resources.
Azerbaijan takes the right steps in this direction. If Azerbaijan will supply gas and oil, it almost means energy independence for Europe, because now they have several energy suppliers which are big powers.
I hope Azerbaijan will play an important role in this question. Of course, it is difficult to carry out this work for such countries rich with natural resources like Azerbaijan. It is necessary to act very wisely. Global energy policy plays a great role, the powers try to influence such developments, that is why it is hard for Azerbaijan to pursue its policy in this regard and export its energy resources. I think Europe and Azerbaijan should very honestly work with each other. Working with Azerbaijan is a future of Europe.
- Azerbaijan extended the contract with European partner companies on development of Azeri, Chirag and Gunashli fields till 2050. What are your expectation from this project?
- I hope Europe will cooperate with Azerbaijan and thus develop the relations. The more energy resources suppliers European market has, the better is for Europe. As I said, Azerbaijan is situated in a very strategically right location in terms of geography. We can state with certainty that Azerbaijan is a leader state in its region, rich with energy resources with whom relations needs to be deepened, this is the way of Europe.
- I want to express my condolences to the relatives of those who were killed during the events that occur on the line of contact. Both military personnel and civilian are killed there, this is a big tragedy. Due to such behavior Armenia loses as a state. I think, if Armenia had liberated the occupied Azerbaijani territories, it would have be to the benefit of people and the state of Armenia itself. A long time has passed and the territories are still under occupation. I think it is not normal. The world community must pay an attention at this and speak more seriously with Armenia. We see the examples in the world when economic sanctions are imposed against occupants, however, such sanctions are not imposed against Armenia. It turns out that there are double standards in the world. They keep silence about the occupation of Nagorno Karabakh, in the case with other conflicts they scream and express resentment. I believe that world community should pay more attention at this and deal with that question seriously after all. Because historically they are Azerbaijani territories, so many refugees were from occupied territories, people were displaced from their homes and cannot visit the tombs of their relatives. I think, nowadays it is not normal. Maybe new generation of politicians in Armenia will realize that this question should be solved and the occupied territories liberated, Armenia will only benefit from that.
- Recently in Europe campaign against Azerbaijani state was launched on Guardian newspaper and other agencies. What is your attitude to that and what is the reason of such campaign?
-When anti state campaigns are held there are always economic interests behind them. Let’s look at Belarus issue. Belarus is a normal democratic state. Economic interests are behind the Belarus question. The same thing I can say about Azerbaijan. I am certain that there are economic interests behind it. They use politicians, journalists, influential media for influencing the state, their target is to achieve the solution of certain questions. Unfortunately, such unfair global policy we see not only towards Azerbaijan, but Belarus and other states.
- The diaspora is very active in Latvia. I consider myself as a part of diaspora. Though I was born in Latvia in the mixed family, I have Azerbaijani roots which I am only proud about. As a member of diaspora I will always develop the relations in political terms because political visits are my professional activity. People may assess how me and Latvian diaspora work. In the recent years we focus on fostering political dialogue between Azerbaijan and Latvia. It is necessary to take further practical steps which will develop our economies and states. I positively assess the activity of Latvian diaspora which can be seen with political visits. You always want the best option for achieving the best result, this is how our job. It is very important to explain to diaspora in Latvia and Europe the situation with occupied territories of Azerbaijan. When I talk with many Latvians, my friends, nobody knows that apart from Nagorno Karabakh several more districts of Azerbaijan were occupied. People are unaware about that and our task is to explain them and convey it to the citizens of European Union.
- Do you keep contact with Congress of European Azerbaijanis who live and work in Europe?
- I will be honest, unfortunately I don’t have contact with them. But, I hope contacts will be established in the near future. Azerbaijan has state committee on diaspora and I think they work in the right direction. When I visited Baku in 2014 I met with the committee chairman Nazim Ibrahimov. I liked his vision on establishing and strengthening of diaspora. Regularly forums are organized for diasporas in Azerbaijan which is right. I had an only such contact with diaspora that fosters similar relations. Azerbaijan acts very rightly by hosting different international events. It is a platform where you can convey the information about Azerbaijan as a country of tourism, business, youth, study and so on. Azerbaijan hosted Formula-1 race, European games, Islamic games and different forums. Everyone who attends such events in Azerbaijan upon their return tell others what he has seen and how he felt there. I know that Azerbaijan is hospitable country. The state acts rightly by organizing these international forums. I am very happy that these people get to know Azerbaijan. During my last visit in Azerbaijan I witnessed that agricultural field is being developed, a lot of greenhouses are built. It means Azerbaijan invests not only in gas and oil but focus on agricultural policy which is a sign of sound and right policy. I am happy that Azerbaijan not only extracts gas and oil but starts to actively develop other fields of industry.
