Seymour Aliyev: “Most important in the Caspian region is security”

Interview by Alexei Vlasov, exclusively to Vestnik Kavkaza

Yesterday, at the History Department of the Moscow State University, the scientific-practical conference "South Caucasus. Elections: new geopolitical realities. Economy, security, humanitarian issues" was held. Political scientist Seymour Aliyev told about Russian-Azerbaijani cooperation.

-    The economy is the core of the bilateral and multilateral relations in the region, and between Russia and Azerbaijan in particular. In your view, what is the potential of economic relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, and can we expect that in the near future, the opportunities that exist in the bilateral relationship will be implemented more effectively?

-    I think that the potential of this relationship is large enough, because Russia and Azerbaijan have been reliable partners for a long time. Trade turnover between the two countries is large, and it increases every year and, in principle, in the future it will increase. States shall cooperate, including in the energy sector: before 2007, Azerbaijan bought gas from Russia, after 2007, it already sells gas to Russia. Relationships are built dynamically. This is evidenced by trade turnover which has steadily increased. Naturally, we make mutual supply of different types of products. In particular, I would also like to mention the supply of oil via Baku - Novorossiysk, which is traditionally delivered to the port of Novorossiysk, and other supplies. These are Caspian countries which have long and close cooperation.

-    What are the opportunities for change for the better of the situation around the Caspian economic cooperation with Iran, in addition to post-Soviet states, in your view? Is there such a possibility, or in the near future in the Caspian theme breakthrough should not be expected?

-    We should always be prepared for the best. We cannot be pessimistic about what is happening, we must hope for the best. Naturally, Azerbaijan, Russia, the Caspian littoral countries from an economic point of view, are long working closely. Azerbaijan has vast experience in the production of hydrocarbon resources, I think, the widest experience, and Azerbaijan can share this experience with the Caspian countries. Azerbaijan has a large infrastructure in the Caspian Sea, which can be used for various projects, including the largest commercial port on the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan, as well as shipyards, which could be used by other countries for the construction of ships for their fleet. But the most important thing in the Caspian Sea is, of course, security.