Ukraine is taking a special interest in Azerbaijan, primarily in the energy domain. Most often Baky [formerly Baku] is mentioned, in terms of bilateral cooperation whenever energy crises arise (here the Azerbaijanis can lend a helping hand) or in the context of implementing the Odesa-Brody-Gdansk project, which cannot be accomplished without Caspian oil. This interest cannot be overshadowed even by the unfavorable assessment of democracy in Azerbaijan. In any case, officials of this country reject such criticism by indicating regional specifics. Official Baky denies the possibility of any revolutions, claiming that the entire nation is unquestionably supportive of its government’s every effort. Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yushchenko, is expected to visit Azerbaijan shortly. The Day has been informed by an Azerbaijani embassy official in Kyiv that preparations for the official visit are underway. Talat Museib Oglu ALIEV, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Ukraine, kindly agreed to share his views on the current stage of Kyiv-Baky relations.
Ukraine and Poland once occupied a special place among the European allies of the Ottoman Empire. Those ties strengthened with time and eventually turned into an alliance against the common enemy in the process of Russia’s east- and westward expansion. Turkey’s ally, the Crimean khan and his troops, helped their Ukrainian ally on numerous occasions and took an active part in the struggle for Ukrainian independence. Before long, the Russian empire, which had already experienced an expansion, occupied Ukraine and Azerbaijan together with the southern Caucasus territories. Within the boundaries of that huge empire, the Azerbaijani and Ukrainian peoples established friendly ties, and cultural and literary exchanges. These ties grew stronger even under the Red empire, as well as in 1990, in the days of the bloody January tragedy, Ukraine was among the first to support Azerbaijan’s just struggle.
In 1991, following the Soviet Union’s collapse, relations between our two countries began to acquire a new format. Now both countries felt they needed each other, in one respect or another. Our countries being located on the crossroads of oil and communication routes — the TRASEKA corridor and the Great Silk Road; Ukraine’s need for Azerbaijani energy resources and Azerbaijan’s need to find ways to Europe through Ukraine; and cooperation within the GUAM framework — all this is making it possible to outline Ukrainian-Azerbaijani cooperation in this millennium. During the mini-Davos forum in Kyiv Ilham Aliev, the president of Azerbaijan, stressed that, after the restoration of independence, “relations between our countries are evolving quite successfully.” Viktor Yushchenko, in turn, emphasized, “We see great horizons that our cooperation is opening up not only for our countries but for all of Europe. And I am grateful to you for this.” All this attests to the existing friendship between these two state leaders.
We know that regional integration, economic cooperation, the struggle against aggressive separatism, the principle of inviolability of national frontiers, and fostering integration into Europe and European structures are among GUAM’s priorities. On the one hand the GUAM summit in Yalta played an important role in the adjustment of its members to the new conditions, especially in Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and, on the other, in stepping up this organization’s activity in general. This, in particular, was the cause of Armenia’s concern. It should be noted that during the GUAM summit in Chisinau Viktor Yushchenko paid special attention to the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani partnership, indicating the new contours of bilateral ties. After that a new stage began in the talks on the completion of the Odesa-Brody-Gdansk oil pipeline and the transportation of Caspian oil to Europe along that route.
The fact that during this past spring’s fuel crisis in Ukraine Azerbaijan was prepared to provide every kind of support may be regarded as a vivid example of our strategic partnership. The arrangements made during Ukrainian Foreign Minister Borys Tarasiuk’s visit to Baky in May were of great importance. The minister’s words that “Ukraine has reached an agreement with Azerbaijan concerning imports of oil products” were instantly publicized by the Ukrainian media. This helped stabilize the Ukrainian oil market. In objectively assessing the current political situation in Azerbaijan, Mr. Tarasiuk emphasized that this country does not have revolutionary conditions because there is a firm link between the government and the people. This can be regarded as support of the Azerbaijani government on Ukraine’s part.
The mini-Davos forum gave a logical boost to consultations concerning trade, business, and investment projects. The increase in the commodity turnover (by 1.6. times) between our countries in the first half of this year, as compared to the same period last year, is clear proof of the great potential of both our countries and its rational exploitation. During the June 29 visit to Kyiv of Azerbaijani First Deputy Prime Minister A. Abasov, a memorandum was signed to undertake a study of business and investment projects on a mutually advantageous basis by the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Among other things, it entails cooperation, primarily in the area of oil and gas transportation, oil refining, and sales of oil products on the Ukrainian market. In addition, both sides are studying the possibility of launching joint investment projects aimed at developing the Black Sea coast infrastructure with a view to using available terminals to handle all kinds of cargo. The sides further agreed to hold a business forum during the Ukrainian president’s official visit to Baky. In fact, this memorandum is a summary of the measures that were coordinated during President Yushchenko’s visit to Azerbaijan.
Our countries have also cooperated in the cultural and scholarly spheres. Such mutually advantageous cooperation and exchanges of students and scholars are topical issues today. Ukrainian language and literature studies at the Slavic University of Baky, the history of the Slavic peoples at Azerbaijani institutions of higher learning, and a special approach to and respect for the Ukrainian ethnic community in Azerbaijan are just some examples of existing cooperation in the scholarly and cultural spheres. In the nearest future we are planning to hold the Year of Azerbaijan in Ukraine and the Year of Ukraine in Azerbaijan. All this convincingly shows that good prospects exist for bilateral and multilateral relations between our two countries.
