Azerbaijan`s ambassador to Jordan and Iraq Elman Arasli gave an interview to Azerbaijan State Telegraph Agency (AzerTAc).

- Mr. Ambassador, the mass media outlets spread information on your visit to Iraq. Could you tell us about goal of your visit to this country?

- It is really so. I and the third secretary of our embassy in Jordan Emil Agaahmadov were in Iraq, from June 10-13. The goal was to say goodbye to representatives of the official and public figures of Iraq, where I have been worked as ambassador since 2008. It was scheduled to meet with President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and some ministers to discuss Azerbaijani-Iraqi cooperation. Unfortunately, President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki were beyond the bounds of Baghdad. President was in Sulaimani, in the north of the country, while head of the government in Nasiriyah, where he has held on-site meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. We were offered to leave for Sulaimani to meet with President. But because of time limit and some technical difficulties we couldn`t use this opportunity.

We met with responsible representatives of Iraq in Bagdhad to discuss various issues of Azerbaijani-Iraqi cooperation. The meetings were held in atmosphere of friendship and mutual understanding. The Iraqis showed traditional Arabic hospitality and kindly reception.

- Dear Elman, the relations between Azerbaijan and Iraq are permanently developing and cover all new spheres. Could you tell us what specific issues were discussed during your trip to Iraq?

-First of all, I would like to attract your attention to one important moment. Iraq is the closest Arabic country to us. I mean the geographic proximity of this country to Azerbaijan and presence of common history, spiritual and cultural traditions. During 1967-1974, I was on a diplomatic mission in Iraq and during seven years I daily communicated with Iraqi people and made sure that firm relations established over the centuries between Azerbaijani and Iraqi people serve as a good basis for cooperation. The both countries successfully develop bilateral relations and joint activity within the international organizations.

We expressed our gratitude to Iraqi side for permanent support of Azerbaijani initiatives in UN, OIC, UNESCO and other organizations.

For many years Iraqi diplomatic missions has been functioning in Baku. A decision on opening of our embassy in Baghdad has been also adopted. We informed Iraqi friends that currently the issues on realization of this decision are examined in Baku.

During the meeting with Iraqi deputy foreign affairs minister Labid Abbawi and other responsible employees, the interlocutors repeatedly stressed the necessity of soon opening of the embassy and promised to ensure security of Azerbaijani diplomats.

A special attention was paid to launch of activity of Azerbaijani-Iraqi joint intergovernmental commission on cooperation and conducting of its first meeting in Baku. We reminded Iraqi friends that Azerbaijani co-chairman and members of the commission was approved and we await such decision from Iraqi side. The Iraqis promised to complete all issues regarding the joint commission and start its activity.

The issues of developing of cooperation in energy sector were discussed at the Cabinet of Ministers and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was said that there were wide opportunities for training of Iraqi national personnel in oil industry in Azerbaijani universities. We also expressed our readiness to deliver oil equipment made in Azerbaijan to Iraq. Prime Minister`s adviser George Bakas promised to submit this proposal to the country`s leadership.

The issues regarding cooperation in defence industry, agriculture, youth and sports were also in the focus of attention.

- What can you say about political situation and security in Iraq? The world`s mass media outlets daily inform about terrorist acts and explosions, which caused big casualties. Did you feel changes for the better compared with your previous trip to Iraq?

- Without going into details, I can stress a noticeable improvement. At the cost of military, political and financial efforts, they could solve some important problems. The occupation forces left the country. A new Constitution, which declared the territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq, was adopted. The elections to the parliament and municipalities were held. The work on creation of the new structures of the executive authorities and formation of national army and new structure of the ministry of internal affairs is underway. The Iraqi government gained an international recognition.

These measures led to stabilization of the situation in the country, in particular improved the security situation. But it seems that the mentioned positive tendencies are not sufficiently stable and the military-political situation in Iraq is still complicated. Our sojourn in Baghdad was limited within the so-called "green zone", and we moved in the city by armored vehicle accompanied by security forces.

In conclusion, I would like to share my feeling about the visit. Impressions from contracts with Iraqi partners, colleagues and friends were nice. Baghdad, where I lived seven years, the city, which I know and love, made heavy impression on me. On twist of fate it was named by his founder, caliph Jafar al-Mansur as-Salam ("City of Peace".) During the six centuries, Baghdad was a capital of huge imperia and turned into the biggest economic, trade and cultural center in the Near East in the 5th century. The heroes of magic fairytales "Thousands and one night" Harun ar-Rashid and legendary Shekherezada lived in this city. The poet-free-thinker Abu Nuvas and unsurpassed master of lyric poems, our Fizuli, created their immortal works. Even after collapse of the Abbasids states in the 13th century, Baghdad remained a center of sciences and arts for a long time. The many architectural facilities built in this ancient city were recognized by UNESCO as cultural and historical monuments of world`s significance.

It was very difficult to express my feelings, when I saw the desert streets covered with road-metals, stones, rubbish, endless concrete barriers, the buildings riddled with bullets, broken roads, destroyed bridges. The laid-back faces of people, who lost relatives and endured hellish pain, entailed not only sympathy but also protest against insanity of tragedy appeared on the land of ancient Mesopotamia. Nevertheless, as my Iraqi friends said even in such terrible conditions, the people try to find the way out of a situation. In spite of ordeals and victims, the Iraqis abided by their national, stubborn and optimistic character. It expresses respect. There are wide opportunities to restore the destroyed Iraq: the vast reserves of energy carriers (we were told that in the next five years Iraq may increase oil production up to 12 million barrels per day), rich water resources and fruitful lands and mainly the human potential.

During our meetings, we told the Iraqi guests that Azerbaijan watches closely the situation in Iraq and sympathizes its people subjected to such hard ordeals, and understands and supports the efforts of Iraqi government aimed at cessation of violence and terror and achievement of national reconciliation and preserving the country`s unity.