(MENAFN- Trend News Agency)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 13. COP29 holds great
importance for both Belgium and the EU, the Belgian Ambassador to
Azerbaijan Michel Peetermans told Trend in an exclusive interview.
"COP29 is of great significance for Belgium and the European
Union as a whole. There is currently a global consensus on climate
change and the necessity of responding to it. Achieving the three
global goals set in the climate negotiation process will require
significant efforts at all levels. These goals include: keeping the
rise in global average temperature well below 2°C and limiting
global warming to 1.5°C; ensuring the resilience of our economies
and societies to the impacts of climate change; and aligning
financial flows with these goals in low-carbon countries and
economies resilient to climate change," the ambassador said.
Peetermans noted that numerous measures are being undertaken at
both the European Union level and within the Belgian state and its
federated entities (particularly the three regions with extensive
environmental competencies: Flanders, Wallonia, and Brussels-the
capital) to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality
by 2050.
He brought attention to the fact that the COP has seen an influx
of heads of state and government in recent years, with over 150
prominent political figures attending earlier sessions.
"Impressive representation from Belgium will be on display at
COP29. Political heavyhitters and a negotiating team will make up
the principal delegation. Media, businesses, and civil society
organizations are also likely to play a significant role.
Interaction among various stakeholders is a crucial feature of the
Conferences of the Parties and an essential component of their
success," the ambassador emphasized.
Peetermans also pointed out that Belgian companies are still in
the game when it comes to the development of solar energy in
Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan.
"Along with other chiefs of EU missions, I got the chance to
tour the Babek solar power plant in November 2022. Thus,
collaboration in the renewable energy sector is well within the
realm of possibility," said the ambassador.
Peetermans also brought up the fact that other industries could
be good places to work together.
"Belgium is a leader in numerous sectors, including energy
transition, green hydrogen, aerospace, biopharmaceuticals and life
sciences, nuclear medicine, transport and logistics, and the
development of industries such as microelectronics, artificial
intelligence, and digitalization," the ambassador emphasized.
Peetermans added that Belgium has a genuine biopharmaceutical
ecosystem consisting of companies, universities, research
institutes, university hospitals, and bio-incubators. According to
him, Belgium has over 37 pharmaceutical manufacturing sites, 23
pharmaceutical company headquarters, and at least 52 research and
development (R&D) and/or clinical trial centers.
Additionally, the ambassador mentioned that Belgium has several
logistical structures, such as the Brussels and Liège airports, the
Port of Antwerp-Bruges, and others.
"On the other hand, Belgium's industrial base consists mainly of
dynamic and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises operating
in the global market. Given the real business opportunities in
Azerbaijan, I hope that trade between our countries will develop in
the coming years, including thanks to COP29, which will undoubtedly
attract several Belgian companies," he added.
Peetermans also highlighted the high level of activity at the
Azerbaijan Embassy in Belgium; recently, it organized an
informational session in collaboration with AZPROMO (Azerbaijan
Export and Investment Promotion Agency) and, from the Belgian side,
with trade promotion agencies, attended by about a hundred Belgian
companies.
"The trade representatives for Azerbaijan of the Belgian regions
are based in Istanbul but regularly visit the country for bilateral
contacts. The representative from Brussels visited in May, and the
Flemish colleague will do the same in June," the ambassador
added.
Peetermans noted that Belgium is following discussions on
increasing the capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor.
"Currently, Belgium does not import large volumes of oil or gas
from Azerbaijan, and my government's policy is primarily focused on
improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energy
sources, including wind farms in the North Sea. But we are, of
course, very closely following the discussions on increasing the
capacity of the Southern Gas Corridor. Moreover, a Belgian company
owns a 20 percent stake in the consortium that owns TAP (Trans
Adriatic Pipeline). We understand the commitment of Central
European countries to this project, which aims to strengthen their
energy independence," the ambassador emphasized.
He stated that the Baku Energy Forum, which took place on June
5-6, 2024, offered a chance to explain the future of many projects
that would promote gas transit from the Caspian towards Europe.
"Belgium supported the adoption of the Memorandum of
Understanding between the European Union and Azerbaijan on a
strategic energy partnership, signed in July 2022. The political
weight of this agreement is high because it shows that the two
parties are prepared to work together to improve energy security in
the European Union and speed up the energy transition in our
economy," added Peetermans.
The ambassador noted that the development of the Middle Corridor
contributes to the diversification of international routes.
"While trade between EU countries and China is mainly conducted
by sea from Pacific ports, routing some cargo through Central Asia
and the Caucasus can offer various advantages in terms of speed,
lower CO2 emissions, and supply diversification in case of a
crisis," emphasized the ambassador.
Countries in Central Asia and the Caucasus can take advantage of
their advantageous geographical and geopolitical situations to
entice more investments along the Middle Corridor, according to
Peetermans, which in turn generates more employment
opportunities.
"To achieve this goal, it is necessary to work on improving
physical infrastructure and facilitating border crossings through
administrative simplification and harmonization of rules," he
emphasized.
The ambassador also added that Belgium itself is a communication
hub in the center of the EU and has a highly developed transport
and logistics network, including the ports of Antwerp and
Zeebrugge, which have formed a single entity for several years.
Speaking about the peace negotiations between Azerbaijan and
Armenia, Peetermans emphasized that, in line with the United
Nations Charter, all states have committed to "saving succeeding
generations from the scourge of war" and living in a spirit of good
neighborliness.
"The European Union, in particular, thanks to the initiatives of
the President of the European Council Charles Michel, which were
fully supported by Belgium, has made every effort to bring the
viewpoints of various parties closer in accordance with the
principles of international law," he said.
He believes that bringing peace to the Caucasus is in everyone's
best interest, since it will help put an end to bloodshed in the
future and boost the economy of the area as a whole.
In order to entice further investors for transportation, energy
transition, and economic diversification projects in Azerbaijan,
the ambassador stressed the need for regional stability and
certainty.
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