HE MR. FAKHRADDIN GURBANOV
AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN
Ambassador’s Speech on Foreign Relations of Azerbaijan
Conservative Foreign and Commonwealth Council
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for taking time to join us today and also for a very kind invitation from CFCC. I am honoured to have the opportunity to deliver this speech today.
I will try to be as brief as possible and will focus on the foreign relations of the Republic of Azerbaijan. This is obviously a much broader topic and I can talk about it for hours. However my speech will mainly concentrate on how we will conduct in the months ahead.
You might be aware that Azerbaijan was elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council last year. This is a great achievement for a small country like Azerbaijan with a total 20 years of independence. It would not be an exaggeration if I say that this is the most important foreign policy achievement for my country.
UN Security Council and Eurovision Song Contest
What makes this victory more special is that we achieved it in a competition with two EU members Slovenia and Hungary. But this also puts a great deal of responsibility on our shoulders.
We are determined to make our contribution to the preservation of global peace and security and raise issues of importance for all members of the international community. Indeed we are going through historic moments as evidenced by what is happening in the Middle East politically and security-wise but also what has been happening in Europe economy-wise. At this tumultuous time I think more than ever there is a need for the global community to ensure that peace and security is maintained and a degree of prosperity is achieved for the people all around the globe.
This year Azerbaijan is also hosting an important European cultural event, Eurovision Song Contest. We take great pride in the fact that a country which was part of the Soviet Union until 20 years ago and regained its independence in 1991, has won Eurovision Song Contest in Germany last year. This is indeed a huge achievement for Azerbaijani culture but also a great opportunity to join European family of nations culturally. Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, is now getting ready with preparations and arrangements to welcome all Europeans to the country to celebrate this huge music festival.
So this year is monumental for Azerbaijan as it has now a seat in the highest security body in the world and is also a host of an important cultural European event, Eurovision Song Contest.
Euro-Atlantic, Energy and UK-Azerbaijan Bilateral Relations
One of the main priorities for our foreign policy is integration with Euro-Atlantic structures. We have come a long way in that regard as Azerbaijan is now a member of the Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO Peace for Partnership program and is cooperating with the European Union within the framework of Eastern Partnership program. It has also developed a fruitful cooperation with individual European countries such as the United Kingdom, in a wide range of areas of economy, energy cooperation, culture, education and people to people ties.
My country has recently increased its weight in the energy security and supplies to Europe through the implementation of region-wide projects such as BTC and BTE oil and gas pipelines respectively. BTC oil pipeline has now turned into a wider regional line which was recently joined by Kazakhstan and now transports oil resources via the Caspian Sea to the line. The combination of vast energy resources with a strategically crucial location has put the country at the heart of new European energy projects for the years to come.
Among the countries importing natural gas from Azerbaijan are Turkey, Georgia, Russia, Greece, Italy, and Bulgaria. New plans are being considered to establish a transporting system for LNG facilities from Georgian port through Black Sea towards both Bulgaria and Romania in future. We are determined to play our part in energy security of Europe and obviously try all we can so that this pipeline could bring benefits to the European energy security for the foreseeable future.
Azerbaijan-United Kingdom Bilateral Relations
Today Azerbaijan and United Kingdom enjoy increasingly diverse and dynamic relations. In fact this year we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our tow countries. Our priority areas for cooperation include energy, security, non-oil sectors such as financial services, IT, consultancy but also extends towards cultural interaction and education. UK has strongly supported regional energy projects in our region. British companies have been at the forefront of foreign companies which have established operations in Azerbaijan. Today there are more than 170 UK companies and 5000 British expatriates working in my country. On the other hand the UK is the biggest investor in Azerbaijan with around half of all foreign direct investments coming from the UK. The two countries are also cooperating well in the field of international security within European and international organizations. The bilateral ties are not only restrained with a certain sphere they rather involve cultural and educational links which are undoubtedly crucial to move ties towards new areas of cooperation.
The British universities attract hundreds of Azerbaijani students each year and indeed according to the Ministry of Education of Azerbaijan, UK is the third most preferred country for young Azerbaijanis. Last year the number of our students coming to the UK for education with Government scholarship was around 150. This obviously excludes those who study in the UK with their own financial resources and through UK scholarships.
This is not of course one-way flow of people or expertise. Azerbaijani organizations have strengthened their presence in UK which has hugely contributed to raise profile of the country and increased interaction between the people. Among the leading organizations based here in UK are Azerbaijan House, Anglo-Azerbaijani Society, The European Azerbaijan Society, Britain-Azerbaijan Business Council and many student societies at British universities.
Nagorno Karabakh conflict
I think I now need to touch upon the challenges facing Azerbaijan in the realm of foreign policy. The biggest challenge facing the country is the unresolved conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia. Despite 18 years of diplomatic negotiations within the OSCE Minks Group the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains unresolved. As a result of the occupation of Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding seven regions of Azerbaijan 20% of Azerbaijani territories is under occupation and around 1 million IDPs and refugees have been re-settled al across the country.
We all acknowledge that the situation is volatile and can get out of control anytime despite a ceasefire in force and this is not a threat to the regional security but also a potentially dangerous conflict for the whole Europe. Azerbaijan has been and remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in the interests of regional peace and prosperity. We take this position despite the fact of the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and sufferings of our people as a result of the conflict.
But let me be frank and open. The negotiations can not go on endlessly. There has to be a mutually acceptable solution to the conflict and that should be within the principle of restoration of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Otherwise a full-fledged regional cooperation in the South Caucasus would be unimaginable.
Should we succeed to resolve this conflict of course a window of opportunity will open up for an increased regional integration and this will also boost region’s integration with Europe.
I think I will stop here and would be delighted to answer your questions. Thank you very much again for your attention and I hope you enjoyed it.