MORE THAN POLITICS

President Ilham Aliyev's official visit to Rome last week again confirmed that Azerbaijan is being appreciated in Europe, too, as a key partner in the South Caucasus.

A reception at the highest level was arranged for the Azerbaijani president in the Italian capital. And this is not surprising: Italy is Azerbaijan's No 1 trading partner, being a major importer of Azerbaijani resources. Added to all this is the fact that energy cooperation will noticeably strengthen in the near future: recently, Azerbaijan, when choosing between the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline and Nabucco West projects for the strategic route to transport its gas to Europe opted, to Italy's delight, for the first project which will pass through that country's territory.

That is why there was no hiding the satisfaction at the latest arrival of the head of the Azerbaijani state on the Appenine Peninsula. In Rome Aliyev and the members of his delegation were received by Italy's top people - President Giorgio Napolitano, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and the Chairman of the Senate Pietro Grasso.  At the meetings much was said about the successful development of cooperation between the two countries in the political, economic and humanitarian spheres and, of course, energy and emphasis was laid on the support our countries have given one another in international organizations. It was pointed out that the numerous Italian companies in Azerbaijan are contributing to the development of relations, and that the relations between the two countries are playing an important role in the development of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union. The sides expressed confidence that all these multifarious links would continue to expand.

Azerbaijan's importance in Italy's regional policy was noted at all the meetings. The chairman of the Senate noted that his country sees Azerbaijan as a guarantor of stability in the Caucasus.

The productive nature and significance of foreign visits by dignitaries are traditionally judged by the number of documents signed. Several such documents were signed on the results of talks between the Azerbaijani president and the Italian prime minister. The main one was a Joint Declaration on strategic partnership between the two countries, signed by Aliyev and Renzi. In addition, in the presence of the dignitaries, an agreement on maritime transport and also three memorandums on cooperation in the economy, sport and culture were signed.

The significance of the joint declaration should also be pointed out. To paraphrase a well-known English saying, the significance was in the detail. The preamble to the declaration reaffirms Italy's support for Azerbaijan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity and points out that the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict needs to be resolved urgently within the framework of the Minsk OSCE group. The text of the declaration clearly states that both sides call for "close cooperation in the matter of a peaceful solution to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Nagornyy Karabakh on the basis of sovereignty and territorial integrity and the inviolability of the borders of the Azerbaijani Republic in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and documents and decisions of the OSCE".

Even more importantly, the joint declaration also stressed that Azerbaijani-Italian relations are of a strategic nature.

Prior to this, another no less important document was signed on the very first day of the visit. This was an agreement between the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Rome Mayor's Office, providing for the allocation by the Azerbaijani side of funds to carry out archaeological excavations at the well-known Mercati di Traiano Museum in Rome, one of the world's most important archaeological complexes.

After visiting the Mercati di Traiano Museum and meeting the Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino, Aliyev briefed Italian journalists about the importance of Azerbaijan's participation in protecting Italy's cultural heritage, which is of universal significance.

"The agreement we have signed today means that we have embarked upon a new stage of cooperation. Political, economic and energy matters are very important to us; they unite our countries. But culture not only unites politicians and countries, but ordinary people, too. Today inter-cultural relations between our countries, contacts between people and mutual interest in each other's history are strengthening this partnership," the Azerbaijani president said.

It is significant that it was precisely on this document that the Italian newspapers, news agencies and websites broadly covering Aliyev's official visit to Rome focused particular significance. The respected La Repubblica newspaper described this agreement as the start of a new stage of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy. "This is a significant day in the history of archaeological excavation in Rome. Azerbaijan's assistance is an important step from the point of view of preserving Rome's historical treasures," the Rai TV channel said.

It is no secret that it is energy that has elevated Azerbaijani-Italian relations, and Baku's relations with many other countries, to the level of strategic. However, Azerbaijan is confident that focussing exclusively on energy cannot be productive for a country that has a vested interest in building not transitory, but long-term relations with key partners and which is planning its strategy of development for many years to come. That is why the emphasis is shifting more and more frequently from energy to other spheres in domestic and foreign economic policy. Specifically, in our inter-state relations today the cultural component is starting to occupy greater space. Politics, trade and energy are all transient concepts and spheres. Political and economic relations always depend on a specific political situation for a given period and energy resources are exhaustible, but only culture is everlasting. As Aliyev pointed out, "culture unites not just politicians and countries, but ordinary people, too".  

In today's world, which is experiencing arguably the most serious humanitarian crisis, "cultural diplomacy" can be effective as never before. Diplomacy of this nature is capable of bringing the country no fewer dividends than hundreds of tanks of oil or gas pipelines. And who better than Azerbaijan, a country with the richest cultural heritage and traditions to assume the role of champion of the ideas of tolerance and inter-cultural dialogue? That is why Azerbaijan has over the past few years become a centre of major international forums on this subject. 

Furthermore, it is worth recalling that the agreement on the funding of archaeological excavations at the Mercati di Traiano Museum is not Azerbaijan's first experience of taking part in the preservation of cultural heritage abroad. One may point to similar projects of Azerbaijan's financial participation in the preservation and augmentation of the collection of the Louvres Museum, the restoration of exhibits at the Vatican, and so on.