El Espanol: Azerbaijan - Caucasian friend of Europe

The Azerbaijani government is determined to be perceived as a true friend of the European Union, reads an article of El Espanol ‘Tea drinking over a minefield with a view of Iran: a trip to Azerbaijan, a Caucasian friend of the EU,’ Report informs.

The author of the article, having visited Azerbaijan, spoke not only about the beauties of the capital Baku, but also about his impressions of visiting various districts of Azerbaijan, including the liberated territories.

It is noted that Baku often hosts important international events, including Eurovision in 2012 and Formula 1 competitions.

The El Espanol article also mentions a significant event of this summer: in mid-July, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, arrived in Baku to sign a memorandum of understanding between the European Union and Azerbaijan on a strategic partnership in the energy sector. This document provides for at least doubling the supply of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe until 2027.

The author also visited the Khudafarin bridge and saw with his own eyes the border with Iran. As the author states, in the Middle Ages, relations and trade were actively developed, but ‘fifteen stone arches with more than 800 years of history - according to the books - do not hold anything today.’ The shaky bridge between the two countries, as the author explains, is a clear symbol of the fact that ‘secular Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Iran have turned their backs on each other not only in religious and cultural matters.’

The article draws attention to the fact that Azerbaijan continues to face the problem of mine danger in the liberated territories: “On the way to Karabakh, all we see is a huge expanse of land, and warning signs - with letters that we do not understand, although in the pictures everything is clear - and markings, stakes neatly driven into the ground and warning tapes stretched between them. You can step on here, and it's better not to walk here. Anti-tank mines, and only a memory will remain of you.”

Describing in detail the restoration work in Karabakh, the author notes that ‘huge bulldozers open passages for roads and railways under construction.’

“Displaced persons have the right to return to their land after such a long time, and the government is investing heavily in this,” the article notes.