Switzerland ‘interested’ in closer ties with Azerbaijan
Switzerland is interested in developing its
relations with fast-growing Azerbaijan, a visiting Swiss lawmaker
said in a meeting with her Azerbaijani counterparts on Tuesday.
Christine Egerszegi-Obrist, who heads a joint friendship group, noted that Switzerland "is a small country that needs big friends". "We are therefore interested in cooperating with rapidly developing Azerbaijan." Egerszegi-Obrist said her visit aims to expand relations not only between the two countries’ parliaments but in all areas.
Egerszegi-Obrist said that following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Switzerland in late 2009, the interest of Swiss businessmen in the South Caucasus republic has increased. Visits by a number of entrepreneurs, including company heads, as well as scholars chiefly seek to forge relations and cooperate in such fields as science, education, energy, banking, and construction.
The Swiss lawmaker also said her country was utterly perturbed over the stalled settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
"All people should live in an environment of peace and well-being. We support Azerbaijan’s stance on the solution of the problem. We believe that, despite its being difficult, a peaceful settlement of the conflict is possible."
Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova, who heads the Azerbaijani-Swiss inter-parliamentary taskforce, said the unresolved status of the Garabagh conflict is a major hurdle for the development of not only Azerbaijan but also the entire region and poses a threat to security.
The Garabagh problem was also in focus during the Swiss MPs’ meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov answered their questions regarding the long-standing dispute as well as on a slew of other issues including the developments ongoing in the region, Azerbaijan’s energy policy and spending of the counry’s incoming oil revenues, and the South Caucasus republic’s overall economic development.*
Christine Egerszegi-Obrist, who heads a joint friendship group, noted that Switzerland "is a small country that needs big friends". "We are therefore interested in cooperating with rapidly developing Azerbaijan." Egerszegi-Obrist said her visit aims to expand relations not only between the two countries’ parliaments but in all areas.
Egerszegi-Obrist said that following Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Switzerland in late 2009, the interest of Swiss businessmen in the South Caucasus republic has increased. Visits by a number of entrepreneurs, including company heads, as well as scholars chiefly seek to forge relations and cooperate in such fields as science, education, energy, banking, and construction.
The Swiss lawmaker also said her country was utterly perturbed over the stalled settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper (Nagorno) Garabagh.
"All people should live in an environment of peace and well-being. We support Azerbaijan’s stance on the solution of the problem. We believe that, despite its being difficult, a peaceful settlement of the conflict is possible."
Vice-Speaker Bahar Muradova, who heads the Azerbaijani-Swiss inter-parliamentary taskforce, said the unresolved status of the Garabagh conflict is a major hurdle for the development of not only Azerbaijan but also the entire region and poses a threat to security.
The Garabagh problem was also in focus during the Swiss MPs’ meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. Mammadyarov answered their questions regarding the long-standing dispute as well as on a slew of other issues including the developments ongoing in the region, Azerbaijan’s energy policy and spending of the counry’s incoming oil revenues, and the South Caucasus republic’s overall economic development.*
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