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Question: How do you assess current political, economic and cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Lithuania? Answer: Lithuania and Azerbaijan has held intensive political dialogue for the last two years. The mutual visits of Presidents also prove this. The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev tripped to Lithuania twice and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus tripped to Azerbaijan several times.

During high level meetings, over 10 intergovernmental documents on economic and political cooperation between Lithuania and Azerbaijan were signed. Our businessmen became more active in your markets. Less than 10 Lithuanian companies operated in the Azerbaijani market a year and half ago when I began as an ambassador. Now there are over 200 Lithuanian companies in Azerbaijan. Our businessmen consider Azerbaijani market successful.

Question: What measures are needed to be taken to enhance bilateral cooperation and what are priorities for the next year? What assistance can Lithuania render in Azerbaijan’s integration to the European Union within the framework of Eastern Partnership? Can Azerbaijan benefit from Lithuania’s experience?

Answer: We will need more specified cooperation in near future. Lithuania can offer much to Azerbaijan. First of all, the experience that Lithuania gained during EU, NATO and World Trade Organization admission. All processes including formalization of our rights, standards and enhancing skills of staff can be helpful for Azerbaijan in all these fields and can speed up Azerbaijan’s integration into the European Union.

Lithuania successfully shares its experience and Azeri specialists from Ministry of Defense and State Border Service are trained in Lithuania.

Lithuanian customs agencies set example for the entire Europe and we can offer Azerbaijan our experience in this sphere.

Lithuania is interested in Twining programs between European Union and Azerbaijan, conformance of legislation and documents to international standards and Lithuania will offer its experience to Azerbaijan within this program. It can further encourage Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in line with Eastern partnership.

Lithuania considers Azerbaijan an island of stability in the South Caucasus. Of course, we are aware of the problems related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and latest events in Georgia. Armenia has caught up in isolation and entire Caucasus is in tension. These “frozen conflicts” influence not only region, but also the European Union in indirect way. Lithuania is interested in enlarging zone of security and resolution of these conflicts. We are hopeful that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will be settled by peaceful means. Azerbaijan is an example of stability in pragmatic policy in the region. This policy yield positive results regarding security of energy supplies. New routes for transit of hydrocarbon from the Caspian region to the European markets are closely linked with the security of the region. Europe needs to make its own contribution to security in the South Caucasus and the Caspian region.

Question: Lithuania signed Baku Declaration at the end of the energy summit in Nov. which calls for the establishment of European-Asian corridor in an attempt to transport hydrocarbon resources from the Caspian region to international markets. What is Lithuania’s role in this process?

Answer: Lithuania was one of those to initiate European Union’s energy policy. EU is interested in diversification of supply routes to Europe. Azerbaijan can be one of the largest suppliers who can ensure energy security of whole Europe, not only of Lithuania. We consider Azerbaijan a country with a promising future. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan, Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum and Nabucco will yield results. Azerbaijan makes every effort to open new trans-Caspian corridors to the European markets.

Even if Azerbaijani oil and gas is not directly re-transported to Lithuania, it will be delivered to the European markets and an energy gap in Europe will be reduced. It will be easier for Lithuania to negotiate with Russia. At present, the country totally depends on Russian oil and gas. But this dependence is mutual. If Azerbaijan becomes larger supplier of alternative oil and gas to the European markets, it will easier for us to found a common ground with our only supplier - Russia. There are realistic prospects of delivery the Azeri oil to the Lithuanian markets.

Lithuania consumes around 12mln tons of oil a year. We buy Russian gas mainly from Primorsk. We can also receive Caspian oil.

Question: In what other fields of cooperation does Lithuania interested?

Answer: Energy is not only factor of Azerbaijan-Lithuanian cooperation.

Lithuania and Azerbaijan have found many fields to cooperate for last years. Possessing of wastes and protection of environment is carried out at large scale in Lithuania. Lithuanian ecologist can share experience of cleaning polluted areas and building purification units in settlements.

Our country is a leader in Europe in this sphere.

The cooperation in the field of medicine could be very interesting.

Lithuania is a leader in cardiosurgery. Our doctors can help in raising skills of their Azeri counterparts. We have projects on protection of health of mother and baby, cardiosurgery and improving skills of medium medical personnel. We have submitted these projects to Azerbaijan for consideration and await feedback.

Lithuania has worldwide brands. Lithuania has maintained very good image in several technical fields. It has developed more under conditions of the European Union. Lithuania has well-known brand dairy products all over the world. We produce household appliances, refrigerators and television sets.

All these spheres of production can have their share in Azerbaijani market as well. We are interested in delivery of furniture to Azerbaijan.

Lithuania produces furniture worth $1bln a year. We export it mainly to the United Kingdom and EU.

Tourism can be viewed as another field of cooperation. We have resorts and sanatoriums of international importance where Azerbaijani citizens would be welcome.

By Abdullayeva