«I hope that the Government of Azerbaijan will agree to the return of the German Political Foundations»

Question:  Our conversation takes place on the eve of Germany's national holiday - the Day of German Unity. Thirty one years have passed since this significant event took place in the history of the Germany. How would you characterize the past period - what has been, and has not been achieved?

Answer: After 31 years, the unification can be regarded as a success. There are some voices pouring water in the wine, pointing at a payment gap between the former West and the former East, both in salaries and pensions. Some analysts think about the success of a far-right wing party in the South Eastern part of Germany at the recent general elections, and ask whether this could be the result of neglect of the people living in the Eastern parts of Germany. But I would like to emphasize: After 31 years, a lot of young people with roots in the East were born in the West and many children with parents with roots in the West are growing up in the East. Germany’s society became more divers, more in the big cities than in the countryside – well noting the fact that the Western and Southern regions of Germany have bigger cities than the East and the North (where only Berlin and Hamburg have more than two million inhabitants). With her open-minded society developed in the last 31 years, Germany managed our own economic challenges at the turn of the century, the global financial crisis in 2008, the Euro crisis in 2010, and the challenges following the high influx of migrants due to the war in Syria in 2015 – and last, but not least, the pandemic since 2020.

Question: Could your country completely close the gap between the West and East regions of Germany in the economic and social spheres?

Answer: As mentioned above, a payment and pension gap still exists. But the difference of the average payment gap shrunk to 14 %. The root causes of the gap today, however, are no longer the result of the German division or the instability following the unification. There are areas in the former West with lower productivity and higher unemployment than in some areas in the former East. Thus, closing the gap in the next years serves the completion of the ongoing adjustment. It is no longer an issue of structural change.

Question: What are the priorities of German foreign policy today, when happened Brexit and the future of the European Union is not so clear?

Answer: After the general elections on September 26, the future majority in the parliament is not yet decided. Three different combinations of political parties are feasible but it is still open whether the center-right Christian Democrats or the center-left Social Democrats will lead the government; in any case, both need the support of the Green Party (environmental-civil right) and the Liberals. Also the option of a renewed coalition between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats is still conceivable. Nevertheless, in all cases future German foreign policy will be based on the firm conviction that only in a rules-based world order, with respect of human rights and the principle of democratic participation the new and the already existing challenges can be successfully attacked. The European Union needs her own sovereignty, both in the fields of technology and security – this will be only acceptable to the citizens under the condition of credibility, i.e. defending the Union’s values not only outside but also within the Union. The Transatlantic Alliance and its activities “out of area” have to be rebalanced. We have to find convincing answers to the claims of China and Russia.

Question: Today Azerbaijan is going through a process similar to the unification of Germany. Last fall, Azerbaijan has liberated part of its territory. Are German companies interested in participating in rehabilitation projects in the liberated territories?

Answer: The German-Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK) prepares a joint exhibition stand for German companies at the first trade fair “Rebuild Karabakh” which will be held on 20 to 22 October 2021 in Baku. I am sure that German companies either already present in Azerbaijan or interested to become active in our biggest trade partner in South Caucasus, Azerbaijan, will react positively to this unique opportunity.

Question: Next year Azerbaijan and Germany will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations. How would you assess the history of bilateral relations, do you think that potential for cooperation being fully utilized?

Answer: Our common history lasted much longer than the resumption of our diplomatic and consular relations in February 1992. Whereas cultural and economic relations had been established back in the 16^th century, with the arrival of German settlers in Azerbaijan 200 years ago and the first honorary consul in the 19^th century, our bilateral relations witnessed a permanent growth. The joint history marks our bilateral relations: They are not only relations between governments but between our peoples. This is where the real potential is: I hope that a new Agreement on cooperation in the fields of culture, education, science, youth and sport can be finalized before long. The German state-governed cultural institutions such as Goethe Institute, German Academic Exchange Service, Central Agency for German Schools abroad as well as the new Azerbaijani Cultural Institute attached to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Berlin shall enjoy the broadest freedoms possible. Thus, ideas can meet and can be discussed for the better of the European space as a whole. The general program lines of the institutions are supervised by our governments, making an additional permission of single cooperation activities by the Ministry of Justice or other institutions unnecessary.

Question: What areas of the Azerbaijani economy are interesting for German investors?

Answer: The German economic landscape is characterized by small and medium sized companies. Therefore, they have to think twice before they invest. But when they find out that the investment conditions are convenient, they stay. And they do not simply sell something or extract commodities, they are ready to create jobs and share knowledge. But they need a reliable legal system, incorruptible judges and a transparent administration - and they need skilled workers. Under these conditions, I see outstanding opportunities in the agriculture, logistic, health and tourist sectors.

Question:  Is the resumption of cooperation between the institutions of civil society of the two countries expected? Are the issues of restoring the activities of German foundations (Naumann, Ebert, Adenauer) in Azerbaijan being discussed with Azeri authorities?

Answer: The six Political Foundations of the German political parties (Konrad-Adenauer, Friedrich-Ebert, Friedrich-Naumann, Heinrich-Böll, Hanns-Seidel and Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundations) are unique: They had been created after the end of dictatorship in Germany. Their main task had been the education of the German people to become citizens loyal to democratic values. Abroad, however, the German Federal Government works with them in order to strengthen the relations between the societies in Germany and in the host countries. The Federal Government finances the related activities of the Foundations: such as support and creation of a healthy environment for a productive interaction between entrepreneurs and employees; or as the awareness-building of climate protection and a clean environment; or as improvement of the skills of parliamentarians and administration. The Foundations cooperate with partners in the respective host countries, very often with the governments, parliaments, media, business associations, and trade unions etc. Each program financed by the Federal Government is approved by the Federal Ministry of Cooperation with the consent of the Federal Foreign Office and the assessment of the German Embassies which evaluate the possible results of the envisaged measures in order to avoid a violation of the host country’s legislation. Therefore, I hope that the Government of Azerbaijan will agree to the return of the German Political Foundations and to grant them the necessary room for their activities. Although the Foundations have a different organizational structure, they have to follow the same rules as the state-governed cultural institutions mentioned above. They are certainly not “fifth columns”.

Question:  What support can Germany provide to the development of free media in Azerbaijan?

Answer: The freedom of the media is based on economic independence and on the skills of the journalists. The freedom is restricted if the journalistic content of media is linked to economic constraints like advertisements by certain stakeholders. To become economically independent, business skills of the owners of the media are required. One big publishing house in Germany is partly owned by the journalists. Of course, some expertise in running a company is unavoidable in such a construction. Secondly, free media need responsible journalists. A government which interacts in good faith with the media, also accepting critical articles, earns a lot in addressing the public. And honest journalists who do not spread rumors but know their profession by good research skills and observing the high standards of reporting and editing, earn a lot by good and confidential relations to the political elite of a country. Unfortunately, the last 18 month the pandemic blocked the proposal of the German Embassy to start a comprehensive training program for journalists in Azerbaijan – which also includes an intensive dialogue between the political class and the media. But I hope that with the increasing possibilities to meet people physically, we can start with this program soon.

Question:On one hand, Germany and the European Union support expanding human contacts and exchanges. On the other hand, it is difficult to obtain a Schengen visa for Azerbaijani citizens, even for those who are going to study. How reasonable are such obstacles in the context of a readmission agreement?

Answer: The exchange of people, particularly young people, students, migrant workers, but also their families among the citizens of the European Union and Azerbaijan is crucial for the strengthening of our neighborhood. Even during the pandemic and worldwide travel restrictions Germany quickly started issuing visas again, especially for students and skilled professionals who can easily obtain their visa for Germany. Germany and Azerbaijan expect to sign a protocol on readmission which will help to better implement the Readmission Agreement between the EU and Azerbaijan. These agreements will help to pave the way for further travel facilitations and the abolishment of visa requirements for short term visits. -0-