Greece-Azerbaijan ties getting better day by day: envoy
By Aynur Jafarova
Bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Greece have been very good and are getting better day by day, Greek ambassador to Azerbaijan Dimitrios Tsoungas told Trend Agency.
Greece and Azerbaijan have the political will to cooperate as deeply as possible in all fields, he added.
He said both sides have established a joint intergovernmental committee since long time ago, which deals with a lot of things.
Tsoungas also noted the next meeting of the committee will be held this year in Athens.
"We are trying to define the dates. It covers a big range of issues and fields in which both sides would like to cooperate. Let's mention for example transport, energy sector, trade and commerce," he said.
The Greek ambassador also noted the level of trade and commercial relations between the two countries is very low given the great potential for this.
"So we have to do something about that. Health sector, tourism, cooperation between businessmen of both countries is among a very big range of fields and sectors we would like to cooperate with Azerbaijan and I am sure that Azerbaijan would like to cooperate with us as well," he stressed.
The ambassador also highly appreciated the selection of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) by Azerbaijan.
"...in June the Azerbaijani government took important decision concerning the energy sector. So, the pipeline TAP has been selected. This pipeline is going through Greece, Albania and Italy. It will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea to Europe," Tsoungas said.
The ambassador also highlighted Azerbaijan's participation in the privatization of Greek DESFA.
"This was only the beginning, as this was only the energy sector," Tsoungas said.
He said the two countries have very satisfactory, conventional, legal framework with a lot of bilateral agreements which are already being implemented.
"There are little bit more, some thirteen or fourteen more which are pending and being negotiated. It is very satisfactory, it is very good. It depends on both sides to implement everything and further promote, develop and deepen our cooperation," Tsoungas added.
Speaking about the priorities of Greece's presidency over the Council of the European Union, Tsoungas said his country as a member of the European Union is much involved whatever the EU does for the third countries.
"Nothing is gifted in the EU, everything is gained. In order for a country to become a member state, it needs a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of efforts. What Greece can do not only during its presidency, but throughout the years is to make Azerbaijan better known to the European Union's public opinion," he said. "You gained your independence in 1991 and we established our embassy in 1992. It became operational in 1993. We know the country very well, well enough. We know what this country has achieved."
The ambassador also said Azerbaijan has achieved a lot of success and this success should be presented to the public opinion of the EU.
"So this is the field that Greece can and will help Azerbaijan. But also through the European policies like Eastern Partnership, for example, we can help Azerbaijan in being better known as well. So this is the message I have brought from Greece and forwarded it to Azerbaijani political leadership that Greece is ready to do what it can in order to help Azerbaijan approaching as much as possible and as soon as possible to the European Union," Tsoungas said.