 | Fischer pleased with Baku visit |
Though no documents have been signed By Saba Agayeva & Emil Bagirov Azernews Staff Writer
German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer paid an official visit to Baku early this week to hold talks with the Azerbaijan government. He said afterwards he was generally pleased with the visit outcomes.
The minister was first received by his Azeri counterpart Vilayat Guliyev, who voiced a hope that the visit would facilitate the development of bilateral relations.
Mr. Fischer said his country was interested in expanding relations with Azerbaijan. There are tremendous opportunities for political and economic cooperation between Berlin and Baku. He pointed out Germany's interest in restoring peace and stability in the region, where Azerbaijan is a key player.
German Foreign Minister indicated that his country is ready to assist Azerbaijan in conducting democratic and economic reforms.
Visiting refugees
Vice-president of German Bundestag Mrs. Antier Follmerin and a group of delegates accompanying German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer in Baku visited the Internally Displaced Persons from Gubadli, Zangilan and Jabrayil provinces settled in a derelict and barely habitable building of a maternity house in Baku.
The guests were led through a semi-dark tunnel to a windowless room in the basement, which is home to an IDP from Lachin Gulnar Agayeva, her husband and their two children. The refugee said her kids are growing up ill in the damp cellar, that her husband's earnings are hardly enough to buy medicines.
Refugees from Armenia and IDPs from Zangilan recalled the day they were ousted from their homes, bare-feet and hardly dressed.
Asked about her impressions, Mrs. Follmerin said, "It is inconceivable that people should live in such damp cellars".
The German delegation held numerous meetings at the MFA, the OSCE office in Baku, political parties, attended a business forum of Azeri and German entrepreneurs, and was received by President Aliyev.
The closed-door meeting lasted about an hour and was followed by the Minister’s news conference, as he was joined by Azeri counterpart Guliyev.
Minister Fischer indicated that Azerbaijan and Germany have good relations and expressed a hope that they would be further expanded. He emphasized that Germany, as a member of the Council of Europe and OSCE, is interested in resolving regional conflicts.
In regard to the human rights theme and the rule of law in Azerbaijan, Mr. Fischer said these issues represent tremendous importance to Germany.
He said Azerbaijan had assumed certain commitments in the Council of Europe and has to eliminate all problems hindering the observance of human rights, democratization and the rule of law.
The minister said opportunities of economic cooperation were high on agenda in his meetings, largely in the energy and banking sectors, privatization, telecommunication and production of automobiles.
Asked about GM40 million worth of assistance that Germany has provided to the aggressor state of Armenia, Mr. Fischer said, "we maintain good contacts with all the Caucasus nations and are trying to contribute to peace and stability in the region through providing technical assistance in economic development".
Apparently, the visit pursued several objectives, of which three were particularly important. These are regional security concerns, democratization of the Azeri society and human rights and, of course, economics. Prospects of cooperation in the energy sector, as well as privatization and telecommunication were high on agenda.
«The Azeri party has suggested that cooperation be established in automobile building and such collaboration becomes discernable, we should apply effort to make it happen», the German Minister said.
With no documents signed, one is tempted to ask a question what the visit was for after all. The answer probably lies in Mr. Fischer’s statement that «we, as members of the Minsk Group, wanted to see first hand how things are evolving in regard to the Garabagh settlement.
In other words, Germany does not want to stay indifferent against the backdrop of active US and French mediation. Germany does not necessarily intend to influence the course of events, but certainly cannot afford being neglected.
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Issue No.21(203), 2001
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