Azernews.Az

Azerbaijan is an important strategic partner for Germany, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said during a visit to the South Caucasus republic last week.

``The two countries are successfully cooperating both in the areas of politics and economics, particularly, in the energy sector,`` Westerwelle told a news conference in Baku.

He said there is especially vast potential for German-Azerbaijani energy cooperation.

``Germany sees Azerbaijan as an energy-rich and transit country,`` Westerwelle said.

Commenting on recent German media reports criticizing Azerbaijan`s rights record, the minister said media outlets in Germany are independent and free, apparently implying that the country`s government cannot influence their news coverage.

``There are different views about Azerbaijan in Germany, but the majority [of the Germans] appreciate Azerbaijan`s successes,`` Westerwelle said. ``We are ready to support Azerbaijan in the further democratic [development] process.``

Westerwelle said he had discussed with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov the situation in Syria, Iran`s nuclear program and the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagorno Karabakh.

According to him, Tehran`s nuclear activities are currently a key issue for Germany. ``We wouldn`t want nuclear energy to be used in the armed forces,`` he said.

On the Karabakh conflict, Westerwelle said Berlin supports a peaceful settlement of the long-standing dispute, stressing the importance of stability for all countries in the volatile region.

Mammadyarov, in turn, referred to German human rights commissioner Markus Loning`s recent call to release alleged prisoners of conscience in Azerbaijan, regarding the statement as ``undesirable``.

Mammadyarov said Azerbaijan is not behind its neighbors at all on the level of democratic development. He noted that criticism in this regard does nothing to facilitate progress and, to the contrary, has an opposite effect.

The minister reportedly responded harshly to the German rights commissioner`s statement, saying ``let Markus Loning not preach to us``.

In conclusion of their talks, the foreign ministers signed a memorandum on establishing an Azerbaijani-German chamber of commerce and industry.

Last Thursday, Minister Westerwelle met with Azerbaijani opposition leaders. The meeting, held at the airport prior to his departure, was joined by the chairmen of Musavat party Isa Gambar and of Azerbaijan Popular Front Party (APFP) Ali Karimli, as well as several NGO leaders.

Karimli told Radio Liberty that the discussions centered on a wide range of issues -- from Azerbaijan`s relations with Germany and the European Union to human rights, alleged political prisoners and freedom of assembly.

According to the APFP leader, Westerwelle pledged that his country would pay heed to the process of democratic development in Azerbaijan.