Closure of Norwegian embassy in Baku regrettable: MFA
Trend: The decision of Norway to close its embassy in Azerbaijan is
regrettable, but this is the decision of the Norwegian government,
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s acting spokeswoman Leyla Abdullayeva
told Trend Nov. 10. She was commenting on the message of the
Norwegian Foreign Ministry about the closure of the embassy in
Azerbaijan. "Azerbaijan has warm, comprehensive relations with
Norway," she said. "Equinor, Norway’s biggest energy company
[formerly Statoil], was one of the first foreign companies in
Azerbaijan in the 1990s and participated in the Contract of the
Century. Famous Norwegian ethnographer Thor Heyerdahl, the author
of the theory of ancient relations between the Norwegian Vikings
and Azerbaijanis, was a great friend of Azerbaijan. Numerous
projects in various fields have been implemented between the two
countries." Abdullayeva added that presently, according to
available information, the Norwegian side intends to maintain its
representation in Azerbaijan through consular activities. "However,
it is not yet clear in what form this representation will be
carried out - in the status of an honorary or diplomatic
consulate," she said.