(MENAFN- AzerNews) The Kyrgyzstan-Azerbaijan relations are on the rise and possess
great potential, Azernews reports, citing the Kyrgyz Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Kairat Osmonaliev.
The ambassador made the remarks in an exclusive interview with
KNIA Kabar in light of the state visit of Azerbaijani President
Ilham Aliyev to Kyrgyzstan on October 11.
The diplomat stressed that relations between the two states are
reaching a higher and higher quality level, and high-level
negotiations open up new horizons of cooperation for both
countries.
Answering a question on which joint initiatives on the
Kyrgyzstan-Azerbaijan agenda are the most in-demand and important
in light of current global events, Osmonaliev stated that visits by
presidents are always meticulously planned and carried out in the
context of warm and friendly relations between the two
countries.
In general, each state visit provides a new impetus to bilateral
ties or creates a new chapter in inter-state relations. For
example, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov's official visit to Baku on
April 19-20 elevated Kyrgyzstan-Azerbaijan relations to strategic
partnership status, with the leaders signing a corresponding
declaration, he said.
Furthermore, at Kyrgyzstan's request, a memorandum on the
establishment of the Interstate Council of Heads of States was
signed, which is a unique mechanism for promoting the interaction
of state bodies under the constant control of the presidents of
both countries, who should hold meetings of the Interstate Council
at least once a year.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev will convene the inaugural
meeting of the Interstate Council in both a limited and expanded
format during his current state visit. In addition to increasing
bilateral relations, the presidents will tackle the most serious
regional concerns on the agenda today, the ambassador
underlined.
“When compared to earlier years, bilateral ties are presently
expanding rapidly and upwardly. As previously said, I believe
significant progress has been made in the political and diplomatic
spheres. For example, the last visit by the Azerbaijani president
was 10 years ago, and the Azerbaijani president is arriving in
Kyrgyzstan within the framework of bilateral relations for the
first time in nearly twenty years of his presidency, without
reference to any other international political event,” Osmonaliyev
recalled.
Commenting on the new horizons of the interstate dialogue, the
diplomat underlined that both presidents are now focusing on
strengthening economic cooperation. So far, the level of trade
between the two countries has been fairly low - approximately 10
million dollars per year.
At the same time, the existing potential allows for a
dozens-fold rise in trade volume on a mutually advantageous
basis.
“We have planned and begun to carry out operations to establish
the Kyrgyzstan Trading House in Azerbaijan. The creation of the
Azerbaijan-Kyrgyz Development Fund is planned very soon. I really
hope that direct flights between the capitals will be opened, which
will give a good impetus to the development of tourism. I believe
that in a relatively short time we will see progress in the trade
and economic sphere,” he stressed.
Furthermore, the transportation and logistical aspects must be
considered. Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan are one of the routes of the
so-called new Silk Road, and there are growing volumes of traffic
from China through the South Caucasus to Europe.
Commenting on the cultural and humanitarian aspects of bilateral
cooperation, the ambassador stressed that the Azerbaijani and
Kyrgyz peoples are historically linked by Turkic roots, culture,
customs, and religion.
The degree of growth of cultural and humanitarian connection
appears to be dependent on the degree of development of political,
diplomatic, and economic relations: the stronger the first two, the
higher the last three, Osmonaliev stressed.
The Kyrgyzstan Days of Culture will be hosted in Azerbaijan in
2023, and the festivities will also highlight the work of prominent
Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov, who would have become 95 years
old.
“By the way, I would like to note with pleasure and pride that
Azerbaijan remembers and honors the memory of our famous
compatriot, who is also considered a great writer of the Turkic
world. In 2008, Chinghiz Torekulovich was awarded by the
Azerbaijani President with the Order of Friendship No. 1 during his
visit to Baku,” the envoy recalled.
Concerning specific joint projects and areas of cooperation,
Osmonaliev stated that Azerbaijan has agreed to share its advanced
experience in the field of digitalization; to provide access to its
highly developed transport logistics and satellites in space; and
to provide quotas for Kyrgyz students in its universities, such as
the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy, the State Agrarian University in
Ganja, Military Institute among others. The embassy is presently
working in these areas; this is a large issue that deserves its own
discussion, he added.
Evaluating President Sadyr Japarov's role in this regard, the
envoy said that under Kyrgyzstan's constitution, the president, as
the head of the executive branch, determines and implements the
domestic and foreign policy of the country, therefore, the role of
Sadyr Japarov in the nation's foreign policy is the most important
one.
“How the country is perceived in the international arena depends
on the head of state. Building warm friendly relations with the
leader of Azerbaijan, who has been successfully operating in
regional and world politics for a long time, is certainly very
significant and necessary for our state, which is why the first
state visit of the president of a fraternal country is given such
importance,” he emphasized.
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