Lithuanian ambassador: Transit through Azerbaijan becoming more and more important in current conditions

On September 24, 2019, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Lithuania to Azerbaijan Egidijus Navikas. During four years of diplomatic service in Azerbaijan, bilateral relations between the countries have reached a new level. Trade turnover has increased and many agreements have been signed in various fields. Report presents an interview with the Lithuanian ambassador, who is completing his diplomatic mission in August 2023.

You are completing four years of diplomatic activity in our country. What do you remember most about Azerbaijan?

About work – visits of the head of states, the visit of Lithuanian president to Azerbaijan in May 2022, and visit of president Aliyev to Lithuania May 2023, and this is actually two biggest and most important events during the four years which of course are important to give a push to deepening our relations, developing our ties, business contacts etc. Exchange of highest levels is actually one of the most important events in bilateral relations of any country.
About Country – I have visited many places in Azerbaijan, not only Baku. I have been traveling to regions so I don’t think I will remember only something particular, I will remember many things, many nice places.

Part of your activity in our country has fallen on COVID time. How do you think our country has coped with this difficult time?

Azerbaijan as many countries in the world coped as well as it was possible, of course these two years were quite challenging for everyone, it was difficult to have activities in the diplomatic area as well but we all coped quite well.

Could you share with us how bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania have developed during this time?

Many areas of cooperation, I would mention some of them, as Lithuania has very important specific and very interesting niche called EU twinning projects. We are implementing in Azerbaijan these so-called EU twinning projects, which are financed by EU, and implemented by EU member states. In this case, Lithuania has won so far 17 projects, we have projects with almost all ministries in Baku, projects meaning some reforms, some modernization, these are not very big projects, it’s like two-year projects. We are very proud about it. These are very concrete areas in which they are implemented. Also, business delegations came from Lithuania to Azerbaijan, also Azerbaijani business delegations went to Lithuania. During these four years the trade turnover between the two countries has increased, it actually almost doubled. In 2019 it was around $30 million per year, now it is almost $60 million per year. It means that economic relations are also developed in this positive trend. We have also had many Lithuania-related cultural events which took place in Azerbaijan regularly, also Azerbaijani cultural events were organized in Lithuania, especially after COVID time. In the area of education, we also continue cooperation and we are happy that there is quite a big number of Azerbaijani students every year going to study in universities in Lithuania. These are some examples of how these bilateral relations developed during the past four years.

Are there any joint projects in the field of solar energy and other renewables?

In the area of renewables, we don’t have yet any concrete projects between Lithuania and Azerbaijan, there have been discussions among competent institutions but so far, we don’t have any concrete particular projects in that area, but these discussions will continue, hopefully there will be something.

Could you tell us more about the two countries’ joint projects in the ecological sphere?

We have quite good cooperation, we had a couple of projects, Azerbaijani ministry of Ecology and our Ministry of Environment are in very good contacts, they have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation. We have implemented one project in the area of educational awareness raising and we also discussed with relevant Azerbaijani institutions regarding the cooperation in the waste-management area in which Lithuania is very advanced. We have a lot of good experience to share, for example the collection of any plastic or other battles, (deposit system), so we have put the discussion in the area of waste-management with Azerbaijani institutions and hopefully this will result in something concrete.

How do you assess the investment climate in Azerbaijan? Are Lithuanian companies interested in assisting in reconstruction works in Karabakh?

So far, we don’t have Lithuanian companies present in reconstruction works in Karabakh, this is not decision by state, it is free choice by private companies., There is lack of concrete information from Azerbaijani side. Information must be concrete and very clear, and actually online that’s how our companies work.

How can Lithuania use the transit opportunities of Azerbaijan and vice versa?

This is something which is important for both countries, in the current context, transit through Azerbaijan from Central Asia countries is becoming more and more important especially against the background of the geopolitical situation and Russian aggression against Ukraine. This changed transport roads. Of course, Lithuania is supporting the development of Middle Corridor which actually still needs to be developed a lot. Lithuania itself actually is not the one who will be using this corridor probably, but our logistical companies and transportation companies are present in Central Asia so I think it is also in their interest. Lithuania has a lot to offer, I think Azerbaijani companies also are thinking about these possibilities, we have Klaipeda seaport, its used throughout the year and of course it can be used for example for some Central Asia countries – Kazakhstan, which is very actively using our seaport. You have your sea, but is not connected to an ocean so that’s the thing. These new transport corridors will be developed because of different realities and mutual support and interest.

What do you think about developing innovative cooperation between the two countries?

It is very important area, it is something in the agenda and in the trend. Lithuania is very advanced in that area especially in fintech in hi-tech and etc. We have a lot to offer, including developing startups, so far, we have only discussions, nothing very concrete actually apart from some trade some fintech machines exported from Lithuania in Azerbaijan. For example, all ATMs in Baku are produced by Lithuania. Azerbaijani side expressed interest for developing startups, but we didn’t have more concrete follow up on projects.

Does Lithuania intend to continue attracting Azerbaijani tourists and generally improve the flow of tourists to Azerbaijan?

Of course, yes. Tourism is also important for any country. Certainly, Lithuania can attract Azerbaijani tourists and vice versa. We know that Azerbaijanis are very interested in going to sanatoriums in Lithuania, it’s a quite popular destination but not the only one. Of course, there are two obstacles – absence of direct flights and visas.