Azernews.Az

By Nigar Orujova

A wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed at the first meeting of the Azerbaijani-Iraqi intergovernmental commission.

The meeting of the commission on trade, economic, technological, education and agricultural cooperation was held in Baku on December 4.

The possibility of using Azerbaijan's telecommunications satellite Azerspace-1 facilities by Iraq in the future was one of the key topics in the meeting.

Azerbaijan's Communication and Information Technology Minister Abbasov said the country has developed greatly in the past ten years.

"One of the results of this development and a sign of the country's economic potentials was sending the first national telecommunications satellite into orbit. We are interested in Iraq's joining us in using the satellite," he said.

Azerspace-1 may also interest Iraq, because its geography has been designed for the Middle East and Central Asia, Abbasov said.

Iraqi Minister of Provinces and acting Minister of Communications Torhan Al-Mufti confirmed Iraq's interest in the satellite.

"Iraq is interested in Azerspace opportunities, particularly in the field of communication, and radio and television broadcasting," he said.

Iraq expects Azerbaijan's embassy to open in the country, Iraqi ambassador to Azerbaijan Haider Albarrak said at the meeting.

"The opening of Azerbaijan's embassy in Iraq would contribute to the further development of bilateral cooperation," he said.

"The parties are also interested in developing energy cooperation," Albarrak said. "This could also include the exchange of experience and the students of petroleum universities of both countries."

He also highlighted the increase in trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iraq, saying, "As of 2012, trade turnover between the two countries reached $418 million. This figure seems incredible to me. There are still unused areas where collaboration must be intensified."

Albarrak also drew attention to the growing number of requests for Iraqi visas. "The embassy receives around 50-100 applications for visas each month," he said. "This figure does not include the number of pilgrims wishing to visit the holy places for Muslims. This verifies the fact that Azerbaijani businessmen are actively entering the Iraqi market."

Azerbaijan's Deputy Economy and Industry Minister Niyazi Safarov said Azerbaijan is interested in participating in infrastructure projects implemented in Iraq.

"Our country seeks a boost to exports to Iraq. Cooperation between our countries is currently at a good level and has the potential for development. The Azerbaijani side would be interested in receiving information on large tenders held in Iraq," he said.

Safarov believes it is also necessary to work on the development of a regulatory and contractual framework for bilateral cooperation.

"Azerbaijan is also ready to provide the Iraqi side with certain investment projects in case they are interested," Safarov said.

Educational cooperation was another issue discussed at the meeting.

Deputy Minister of Education Jeyhun Bayramov said Azerbaijan and Iraq will intensify work on the acceptance of higher education diplomas.

"Many Iraqi students are interested in studying in Azerbaijan in various specialties such as oil, energy, humanities, and medicine. At the same time, they face difficulties when returning home," he said.

These difficulties are caused by the peculiarities of the law and the fact that Azerbaijani diplomas are not recognized in Iraq.

"This issue was discussed at a bilateral working group level, and we agreed to establish permanent contacts in this area with the relevant ministries and agencies in Iraq. I'm sure this work will be fruitful and all the problems will be resolved in the near future," Bayramov said.

Albarrak pointed to other features existing in this sphere, saying one of the problems faced by Iraqi students in Azerbaijan is the relatively short period of visas they receive, as well as the difficulties they face finding housing and registering their stay in the country.

Albarrak hoped these issues will be resolved in the future, and further development of cooperation between the two countries in education and science will be achieved.

A protocol on cooperation was signed following the first meeting. ICT Minister Ali Abbasov and Torhan Al-Mufti signed the document.

The parties agreed on the future development of bilateral economic cooperation, and cooperation in the field of education, research, ICT, financial, tax, customs, agriculture, culture, and tourism.

The next meeting of the intergovernmental commission, attended by the two countries' investors and entrepreneurs, will be held in Iraq.

Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iraq started more than 40 years ago. Iraq was one of the first countries that opened an embassy in Azerbaijan.