Bangladesh is one of the countries that supports Azerbaijan in the international arena.
Amanul Haq, non-resident ambassador of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkmenistan, who resides in Turkey, stated in an interview with “Report” office in Ankara that a new era of cooperation between the two countries has begun after the first meeting of politicians consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Bangladesh in June this year He announced his priorities arising from his duties and powers as ambassador for the expansion of political, economic, educational, cultural and tourism relations between the two countries, and the simplification . visas and other issues.
– Mr. Ambassador, until 2020, the ambassador of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to Azerbaijan carried out his duties from his residence in Ankara. Later this function was entrusted to the Bangladesh ambassador residing in Iran. Starting this year, Bangladesh’s ambassador to Azerbaijan will once again exercise his powers from Türkiye. What will be your main priorities in expanding relations between our countries during your diplomatic activity?
– As you mentioned, after 2020 the Bangladesh embassy in Iran was officially accredited to Azerbaijan. However, due to practical and political difficulties, the Bangladeshi community living in Azerbaijan found it difficult to receive adequate support from the Bangladesh Embassy in Iran. They also wanted to shift the embassy from Iran to Turkey and after many efforts to explain the situation in Bangladesh, it was decided to appoint a Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan this year.
There are several key areas where relations between the two countries are not yet fully developed or adequately implemented due to limited communication and engagement. Bangladesh and Azerbaijan have many potential areas of cooperation, especially in trade, investment, education, culture and ICT. My top priority will be to accelerate progress in these sectors and strengthen bilateral relations.
– On October 31, he presented his credentials to the President of Azerbaijan. How did this encounter make you feel?
– Me Ilham Aliyev I saw him for the first time in 2006. He gave me the impression of a principled Head of State who is capable of turning his plans into reality. When I presented my letter of confidence to Mr. President, he told me that it is time to develop our relations in various fields.
– How do you assess the relations between Azerbaijan and Bangladesh?
– Diplomatic relations between our countries have been established since 1992, Bangladesh is the thirteenth country to formalize relations with Azerbaijan. Over the years, our countries have been cooperating closely, especially in the United Nations (UN), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other international forums, and our relations are developing in this multilateral context.
– As you said, the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bangladesh within the framework of the UN and the OIC is remarkable. So can it be said that because both countries are part of Islamic culture, their joint activities in these international organizations are at the forefront?
– Without a doubt, the common Islamic culture of both countries increases the potential to bring us closer compared to countries with different cultural orientations. Both Bangladesh and Azerbaijan are active members of the OIC and support each other at the United Nations and other international platforms. For example, Bangladesh consistently supports Azerbaijan’s position on the Karabakh conflict. In turn, Azerbaijan has supported Bangladesh in principle on several international platforms, for example, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Telecommunication Union and the Security Council elections. of the United Nations, among others.
Our cooperation also includes mutual support in multilateral organizations. For example, between 2016 and 2019, Azerbaijan supported Bangladesh’s candidacy to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Human Rights Council (UNHRC). Likewise, there is a mutual support agreement between our countries for relevant candidates in these organizations.
– By the way, what steps do you think should be taken to develop relations between our countries in the diplomatic field and in other fields?
– As I mentioned, most of our cooperation was at the multilateral level. Therefore, there are certainly opportunities to expand and deepen bilateral relations. To strengthen diplomatic relations, we must prioritize increasing high-level exchanges and organizing regular consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In June this year we held our first political consultations with Azerbaijan for the first time and we were very satisfied. We should also aim to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on economic cooperation and establish a Joint Economic Commission as soon as possible.
Furthermore, we want to actively encourage Azerbaijani investors to explore opportunities in the developing economy of Bangladesh. I believe this will help the development of trade between our countries. Expanding cooperation in areas such as education, health and culture will also form the basis of our efforts to deepen bilateral relations.
– In February this year, the Parliament of Azerbaijan assumed the presidency of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly for two years. How do you evaluate the relations between Azerbaijan and Bangladesh within the framework of said institution?
– Azerbaijan’s leadership in the Asian Parliamentary Assembly creates a great opportunity to further strengthen relations between the parliaments of our countries, as well as to deepen cooperation with other Asian states. This platform allows us to strengthen bilateral dialogue and work on common regional and global challenges.
– The multinationality of Azerbaijan is the basis of tolerance. You have been to Baku. How did you see it and what do you know about our history in general?
– My first visit to Azerbaijan was in 2006 when I worked in ICT. Since then I have been to Baku at different times and have witnessed fundamental changes in its capital and throughout the country. You rightly point out that Azerbaijan is multi-ethnic, the majority of its population is Muslim, like Bangladesh, and this naturally instills tolerance and a sense of shared cultural values. There are many similarities between our societies, which can be the basis for further strengthening bilateral relations.
– Despite the great distance that separates us, is it possible to establish tourist relations between our countries?
– In today’s world, thanks to new communication and travel technologies, distance is no longer an insurmountable obstacle. Promoting exchange between people is very important because it will encourage greater tourism between our countries.
For example, while visiting Türkiye, Bangladeshis may consider visiting Azerbaijan to explore the country’s rich cultural heritage and tourism opportunities. Similarly, Azerbaijanis traveling to India can include Bangladesh in their itinerary for both cultural exchange and business opportunities. By developing strong tourism ties, we can create more opportunities for mutual understanding and cooperation and benefit both nations. In this sense, one of our most important objectives is the development of the tourism sector with Azerbaijan. We are currently thinking of having direct flights between Baku and Bangladesh.
– Mr. Ambassador, how will Bangladesh be represented at the COP29 international climate conference to be held in Baku from November 11 to 22, hosted by Azerbaijan?
– Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor to the interim government of Bangladesh, will participate in COP29. Muhammed Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering work and the Grameen Bank he founded. This bank was created with the objective of turning the poor into entrepreneurs. The main objective of COP 29 is to support poor countries in the fight against climate disasters. In this sense, COP 29 has sincere support at the leadership level of our country. As you know, Bangladesh is one of the countries fighting against climate change and natural disasters. That is why this event held in Baku is very important for us. We hope that COP29 will be useful and we look forward to the decisions that are made.
