INTERVIEW OF EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY AMBASSADOR OF AZERBAIJAN IN GEORGIA GADJIEV GADJAN

March 19, 1946 was born in a village Ior-Muganli, Sagaredj region of Georgia.

1953-1964 yy.. Studied in high school of region Ior-Muganli.

1964-1969 yy. Received education the Azerbaijan State Institute of Oil and Chemistry on a speciality "Exploitation Oil and Gas fields ".

1969-1971 yy. Worked on the position of the chief Engineer in Azerbaijan Scientific - Research Institute of Oil and Projects.

1979-1982 yy. By studied in a post graduate course.

In 1982 has defended a thesis and has received scientific rank of the candidate of engineering science.

1979-1993 yy. Worked on such positions as the chief engineer, director of lab, senior lecturer in Azerbaijan State Institute of Oil and Chemistry.

1993-1996 yy. Worked on the position of the leading engineer of the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Since 1996 is assigned plenipotentiary and ambassador extraordinary of the Azerbaijan Republic in Georgia.

Married, has of two sons.

You are satisfied development of international relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia? What are the main events in the field of international relations of Azerbaijan and Georgia, which has occurred for elapsed year you consider as most relevant?

Now relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia follow on a mounting line. Till now between countries there were signed more than 70 contracts and agreements. All these documents promote dilating, recess and development of intergovernmental relations. Azerbaijan and Georgia, representing itself as guarantors of peace in the region, have done in this area large business. The president of Azerbaijan Heidar Aliev and President of Georgia Eduard Shewardnadze, which were attending different summits, which were conducted by International Organizations, stood in the same position and connect efforts for the solution of problems available on Caucasus, and also execution of idea "Peaceful Caucasus ", which belongs to these Presidents. All orbs of relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia, which are the strategic partners, worth the praises. I do not know what year it is meant in words "in the course of the year", which are mentioned in the second part of your question. If you mean 1999, I, without doubts, having added to this also term till September 2000, want to mark two large events in relations between countries during the indicated term. The first of these events, discovering oil of the pipeline to a Baku-Supsa and discovering of the terraneous terminal Supsa on April 17, 1999 and participation there of President of Azerbaijan Heidar Aliev together with the President of Georgia Eduard Shewardnadze and President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma. Having marked historical value of this event, and also importance of this event from the political and economical points of view, I would evaluate relevance of the given event in relations between two countries by words of our President outstanding in this measure: "There are many examples of relative expedient cooperation of Azerbaijan with Georgia. But doubtlessly the oil line to a Baku-Supsa is peak of this cooperation ". And the second event is the visit of the President of Republic of Azerbaijan Heidar Aliev to city of Tbilisi of April 22-23, 2000. During this visit, confirming a high level of two-sided relations resting on strategic cooperation between two countries, the relevance of affiliation of efforts was marked with the purpose of a safeguarding of peace, stability in the region and basis of a new security system. All main fundamental issues concerning the transit tariffs related with construction and working of the main export oil pipeline, which will transport the oil from Caspian region. The exclusive relevance of wide area activity of the Eurasian transport route and recovery of a Large Silk Path was pointed out.

What main problems cost on paths of development of economical relationships between our countries?

I do not see any barriers on the way of development of economical relations between our countries. Of course, the economical relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia do not limit only by oil, by production from oil and transportation of oil both and these relations include also other areas. I consider that now economical capabilities of two countries are not completely used. It is necessary to mark that the economical relations have still large outlooks. Between Parliament of Georgia and National Assembly of Republic of Azerbaijan signed agreement " About a Harmonization of the Laws between Two Countries ". This agreement states that the bodies of legislation of each of two countries will receive inside country the conforming laws and thus remove barriers, which preclude with development of economical relations of two countries. For example, law on taxes, law on the custom-houses, and also the conforming one another laws in other areas much more have facilitated development of economical relations between two countries.

What your way prospects for the development of relationships of countries included in CIS? As far as it is effective, in your judgement, the cooperation of countries included in the unit GUUAM develops?

As is known, the organization GUUAN for the first time was built, consisting of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, subsequently Uzbekistan has joined to this organization. In my judgement, between countries, which are included in GUUAM, there is a mutually advantageous cooperation. The evidence to this is views of the Presidents of the countries - members GUUAM on Summit of millenium in New York of September 5-6, 2000 and Declaration, adopted by them. An administration of countries-members of GUUAN solidly have made a decision about an all-around development of relations, about regular organization of summits for the presidents of countries once in one year, for ministers of foreign affairs of countries once in one half-year, both once within one quarter and if necessary of realization of more often occurrings of Committee of the National Coordinators of GUUAM. In the same time the perspective conditions for dilating a structure GUUAM were built. For example, Kazakhstan, Romania, Poland and other countries are interested in membership in this organization.

It is necessary specially to mark that GUUAM was not built alternatively of any other organization.

As to UIS, in my judgement, this affiliation should defend itself from definite elements. In spite of the fact that it developed activity during the long term, this organization could not solve the problems, which it faces. The weakest feature of this organization is that country which is included in UIS, conquers the territory of other state, there are differences between countries, the third country renders the military help of one of two countries that are in a state of the war, and as a result of separatist inclinations, the territorial integrity of countries is upset, etc. In view of absence of reliable solution and elimination of the indicated problems, all this puts under a problem the reliability of UIS and makes it organization completely without any perspectives.

At what stage there is an implementation of the project of the pipeline to a Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan? What main problems which stand on paths of implementation of this project?

The project of the oil pipeline to a Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan already exists in the form of the project, it means, that as the project all problems in relation with it are already resolved. Now there is a problem of the implementation of the indicated project as the actual project. As you know, the project of an oil pipeline to a Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan is commercial structures and now for its realization investments of different corporations are expected. Now in this connection the activities are conducted, the different proposals are introduced and in my judgement, this problem will be resolved in the near future.

What, in your judgement an outlook of further development of the project "A Great Silk Path"? How close in this project are Georgia and Azerbaijan involved today?

It is possible to say, that the Large Silk Path has been already restored. And Georgia and Azerbaijan are the main transit countries connecting the Black sea to the Caspian Sea. In connection with recovery of this path on September 7-8, 1998 in Baku the conference including of representatives of 30 countries and 13 International Organizations was conducted and the concern and interest of all countries in the beginning of development of activity of this path was demonstrated. The Large Silk Path is the shortest, and consequently is the most expedient way passing through the territories of Georgia and Azerbaijan, connecting Europe and Asia. A historical Large Silk Path consists of highway, railway, air and sea routes. I consider, that in the future many more countries will use this way and this path will turn, as well as in an ancient times, to one of the main roads of the world.

What, in your judgement an outlook of further development of the economical reletionships between the economical subjects of Azerbaijan and Georgia?

The prospects for cooperation between the economical subjects also are broad. As a result of known processes there are a lot of economical subjects of Azerbaijan and Georgia that have completely stopped development of activity or largely have reduced development of activity. And it has resulted in easing of economical relations between the economical subjects of two countries. But, as I have marked above, there are large capabilities for recovery of available old relations between the subjects of two countries and basis of new relations. In this direction the management of definite activities began.

What main plans on cooperation between Georgia and between Azerbaijan for 2001?

In general, development and the expansion of cooperation in all areas between Georgia and Azerbaijan is one of the main questions. The provisional intergovernmental relations, which exist between Azerbaijan and Georgia now, highly estimate by world community and experts. Despite of all problems and available difficulties, Azerbaijan and Georgia, which are young independent states, have managed to establish an infrequent example of two-sided relations.

And in the first year of the third millenium the schedules of relations of Azerbaijan and Georgia are multilateral.

Philosophies of our countries is the elimination of available differences by negotiations, recovery of territorial integrity of our countries, implementation in a direction of a safeguarding of peace, stability and safety in the whole region, affiliation of all efforts in connection with the beginning of the pipelines for export of oil and gas procured from the Azerbaijan part of the Caspian sea and protrusion from one stand.

One of the main questions is also development of cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Georgia. Despite economical difficulties, our cultural relations develop with each day. The representatives of culture of Azerbaijan often visit Georgia, the representatives of culture of Georgia often visit Azerbaijan, the exhibitions open, the two-sided days of culture are carried out, and thus new pages in a history of cultural relations between two peoples are added. Today we can with pride mark, that last years with the help and with direct presence of the President of Georgia Eduard Shewardnadze with large splendor were marked in Tbilisi 500-year anniversary of Muhammed Fizuli, 100-year anniversary of Bulbul, 80- year anniversary of foundation of Republic of Azerbaijan, 1300- year anniversary of great Destan of Turkish peoples "The Grandfather Gorgud", 80- year anniversary of Kara Karaev, 75- year anniversary of the foundation of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic in a structure of Azerbaijan. The realization of similar measures will be proceeded in the future.