Eurasia Diary took an interview by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Azerbaijan Saud Abdul Aziz Mohammed al-Shamlan al-Rumi.

We present this interview:

How do you evaluate the current state and prospects of relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait?

The Kuwait State has been closely cooperating with Azerbaijan for many years. These ties have an ancient history of religion and tradition, and our traditions are the same. There was a close and good relationship between the previous ambassador Sheikh Jabir al-Ahmad and the previous President Heydar Aliyev. These relations, of course, continue today. We are always striving for further consolidation and improvement of these relations. Over the past few years, Kuwait has sent four airplanes full of humanitarian aid to Azerbaijani refugees as a result of the war with Armenia.

What can you say about the positive changes and developments in Azerbaijan during your stay here?

When we started working in Azerbaijan, our relationship was very good. We want to further develop these ties from year to year. In particular, the official visit of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev to Kuwait in February 2009 resulted in great success. So far we have signed numerous agreements with Azerbaijan. The role of the Intergovernmental Joint Commission plays a crucial role in relations between Azerbaijan and Kuwait. In these columns, meetings of the Joint Commission in Kuwait will be held on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministers of the two countries. Kuwait is one of the nearest states to Azerbaijan in terms of airlines. Travel by airplane takes 1 hour and 50 minutes. This increased the flow of tourists to Azerbaijan, as 7 flights per week were carried out from Kuwait to Azerbaijan.

What is the position of Kuwait in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict?

Kuwait's position in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is clear and stable: Kuwait supports all UN resolutions on this conflict. Naturally, we have always called for the resolution of conflicts by means of peace and negotiation, we have given political preference and avoided war.

Kuwait businessmen interested in investing in Azerbaijan. Which areas are more attractive to them?

This year I have visited many regions, including Nakhchivan and Guba. During our visit to Guba, we met many businesses. Personally, I liked the aluminum, electric cables and pipe production I was on during the trip. Of course, these businesses are in the interest of Kuwait business people. I made a report on my visit to the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and I also added the catalogs of these businesses to businessmen.

What would you like to tell our readers?

I personally wish that tourism relations between the two countries be strengthened. I would like Azerbaijani citizens to come to Kuwait and learn about its culture. As you know, Kuwait is a democratic country, representatives of all the peoples who come here with the inhabitants of the country are free and equal. Kuwait is a very beautiful country and is located very close to Azerbaijan.

Interviewed by Hashim Mammadov