THE NETHERLANDS WANTS TO KEEP DIALOGUE WITH AZERBAIJAN
Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 10 2012
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 10 /Trend, E.Mehdiyev/
2012 was a good year in the relations between the Netherlands and
Azerbaijan, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Azerbaijan, Arjen Peter
Uijterlinde, said in an interview with Trend.
"We look back on the year with many significant visits of ministers
from Azerbaijan to the Netherlands and visits of Dutch ministers
to Azerbaijan. We had deputy prime minister visiting Azerbaijan in
September and this visit produced a very good dialogue between our
two countries and good atmosphere for cooperation," Uijterlinde said.
He said in fact the visit of Dutch Deputy Prime Minister led to an
agreement on bilateral investments treaty that we hope that can
be signed in the new future. "So I think these are very positive
developments. We have also seen the signing of a number of concrete
projects of Dutch companies in Azerbaijan assisting the process
of diversification of economy in the spheres of agriculture, water
management and in the medical sphere. So, I am very encouraged by
that and proud as an ambassador," Uijterlinde stated.
He thinks that notably the spheres of agriculture, logistics, water
management and energy can be priorities for cooperation between the
two countries. "I am speaking about energy in a broad sense, not only
about oil and gas, but also the whole issues of energy efficiency and
alternative energy. These are issues that we have an experience we
can share with Azerbaijan. I think these are areas where we would like
to see cooperation be intensified and we have may put results, but we
can further deepen and expand the cooperation," Uijterlinde underlined.
Regarding the Netherlands' position on Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador said that his country's
position on this issue is in line with the EU position on
Nagorno-Karabakh. "We very much regret that the conflict still
goes on and this protracted conflict is giving such a burden for the
development in the region. We hope very much that the OSCE Minsk Group,
as a facilitator, is able to give a new impetus to the negotiations
process. We think the negotiated solution is acceptable for both
sides," said the ambassador.
Arjen Peter Uijterlinde also spoke on Dutch-Azerbaijani cooperation
within international organizations, saying that the two countries work
together within the international organizations. He stated that the
Netherlands recognizes the fact that Azerbaijan, as a leader in the
region and as a member of the UN Security Council, plays an important
role and has an important role to play.
"We really want to keep the dialogue with Azerbaijan on these issues.
Also because we understand that Azerbaijan has an instrumental role
in the operation in Afghanistan where in the NATO and ISAF context
we work together with Azerbaijan," Uijterlinde said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.
Trend, Azerbaijan
Dec 10 2012
Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 10 /Trend, E.Mehdiyev/
2012 was a good year in the relations between the Netherlands and
Azerbaijan, Ambassador of the Netherlands to Azerbaijan, Arjen Peter
Uijterlinde, said in an interview with Trend.
"We look back on the year with many significant visits of ministers
from Azerbaijan to the Netherlands and visits of Dutch ministers
to Azerbaijan. We had deputy prime minister visiting Azerbaijan in
September and this visit produced a very good dialogue between our
two countries and good atmosphere for cooperation," Uijterlinde said.
He said in fact the visit of Dutch Deputy Prime Minister led to an
agreement on bilateral investments treaty that we hope that can
be signed in the new future. "So I think these are very positive
developments. We have also seen the signing of a number of concrete
projects of Dutch companies in Azerbaijan assisting the process
of diversification of economy in the spheres of agriculture, water
management and in the medical sphere. So, I am very encouraged by
that and proud as an ambassador," Uijterlinde stated.
He thinks that notably the spheres of agriculture, logistics, water
management and energy can be priorities for cooperation between the
two countries. "I am speaking about energy in a broad sense, not only
about oil and gas, but also the whole issues of energy efficiency and
alternative energy. These are issues that we have an experience we
can share with Azerbaijan. I think these are areas where we would like
to see cooperation be intensified and we have may put results, but we
can further deepen and expand the cooperation," Uijterlinde underlined.
Regarding the Netherlands' position on Armenian-Azerbaijani
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the ambassador said that his country's
position on this issue is in line with the EU position on
Nagorno-Karabakh. "We very much regret that the conflict still
goes on and this protracted conflict is giving such a burden for the
development in the region. We hope very much that the OSCE Minsk Group,
as a facilitator, is able to give a new impetus to the negotiations
process. We think the negotiated solution is acceptable for both
sides," said the ambassador.
Arjen Peter Uijterlinde also spoke on Dutch-Azerbaijani cooperation
within international organizations, saying that the two countries work
together within the international organizations. He stated that the
Netherlands recognizes the fact that Azerbaijan, as a leader in the
region and as a member of the UN Security Council, plays an important
role and has an important role to play.
"We really want to keep the dialogue with Azerbaijan on these issues.
Also because we understand that Azerbaijan has an instrumental role
in the operation in Afghanistan where in the NATO and ISAF context
we work together with Azerbaijan," Uijterlinde said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988
when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian
armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992,
including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The
co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. -
are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four
resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the
surrounding regions.