Important for Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan to have common strategic agenda
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov's visit to Baku

INTERVIEWS  19 April 2022 - 20:26

Caliber.Az has interviewed Kyrgyz political analyst, an expert on international relations Edil Osmonbetov.

- President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Zhaparov paid an official visit to Baku on April 19 at the invitation of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The visit has been made on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, as well as the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between the countries. Mr Osmonbetov, what do you think about this visit, and in general about bilateral relations between our countries?

- I think that in the new geopolitical conditions, this visit will serve to further strengthen the strategic partnership between our countries. The war in Ukraine, and the ongoing events in Afghanistan and the South Caucasus have a great impact on all post-Soviet countries, so countries with a common culture, religion, and language must also have a common strategic agenda to defend each other's interests in the international platform.

I think the key goal of this visit is to raise the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan relations to a higher level, sign an agreement on strategic partnership and create intergovernmental tools for further interaction on the eve of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. There were periods when the economic and political levels of interaction between our countries were not at the proper level. However, there is unambiguous progress now. For example, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan amounted to about $10 million in 2021, and today there are already real prerequisites for the growth of this indicator in the foreseeable future.

- The media reports that a number of documents, in particular, a Declaration on Strategic Partnership and a Memorandum on the Establishment of an Interstate Council, are planned to be signed during Zhaparov's visit to Baku. Can you explain the essence of these documents? 

- The Declaration on Strategic Partnership is a very important document designed for many years, on the basis of which countries equally determine the place and role in the peaceful division of labour and interaction on major international platforms. As for the Memorandum on the Establishment of the Interstate Council, I think this is the right decision as it is a kind of working tool for interaction between governments, business entities and various organizations of Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan, through which a further strategy for the development of the Kyrgyzstan-Azerbaijan relations will be formed.

How does Kyrgyzstan assess Baku's efforts aimed at achieving peace in the region in the post-conflict period?
- Kyrgyzstan recognizes Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity, all UN resolutions. We think that the territories which were liberated from Armenia’s occupation are native Azerbaijani lands, and we support your country's principled position in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. At the same time, Kyrgyzstan supports preserving the sovereignty of independent Azerbaijan and stability and peace in the South Caucasus, which is also extremely important for ensuring the security of the entire Caucasus region.

- Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan agreed to establish a joint investment fund in 2021. Is there any progress in this sphere? 

- Kyrgyzstan has such a practice, on the basis of which joint investment funds were set up with the Russian Federation, with Kazakhstan, and now they are being set up with Uzbekistan in the amount of $ 50 million. I think this issue will be discussed during the meeting of the leaders of the two countries in Baku. This is important because, without investment funds, it is difficult for business entities to promote their projects, they need guarantees. I think that setting up a joint investment fund will contribute to the development and strengthening of the bilateral investment climate. 

- Is it possible to implement the "5 plus 3" format proposed by Kyrgyzstan in the South Caucasus?

- Of course, the implementation of this format, envisaging the participation of five Central Asian countries and three countries of the South Caucasus, is required. Today there is a new geopolitical situation when we are on the verge of forming a new world order. Under these conditions, the Central Asian countries are well aware of the factor of great geo-economic division and destruction of security. Therefore, an attempt to bring Central Asia and the South Caucasus together through transit corridors and geo-economic corridors can contribute to strengthening diversification, which in turn will allow the countries of these two regions to feel more confident in the geo-economic arena. 

In parallel, the continuation of the globalization process should be taken into account, despite the post-COVID-19 situation and problems in the field of international security. It is necessary to understand that the downside of globalization is regionalization. If in the current realities, the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus are able to find a common agenda, then this can contribute to strengthening the geopolitical weight of our countries in international relations, and therefore strengthen the sovereignty of regional countries.

Caliber.Az