APA News Agency and APA TV conducted an exclusive interview with Speaker of the National Council of Slovakia Richard Raši.
“Slovakia-Azerbaijan relations are currently at their highest level”
- Mr. Speaker, welcome to Azerbaijan. How would you assess the current level of relations between our countries? What are the main objectives you have set for this visit?
I think that today, Slovakia-Azerbaijan relations are at their highest level. This is because Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Ilham Aliyev signed the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Slovakia. That means we have very close contacts.
Our ministers are in Azerbaijan, and your ministers are in Slovakia. This is really very important. It is not only about business, but also about friendship and support. We need Azerbaijan’s support because of the crises around the world, and I think Azerbaijan also needs Slovakia’s support as a member of the European Union.
We would like to explain to our partners that Azerbaijan is a democratic country, one that is worth doing business with and maintaining the best possible relations with. In my view, this is beneficial for both sides.
“We want to support our governments because we face many challenges”
- Parliamentary diplomacy plays a key role in bringing people closer together. Are there plans to sign new agreements between the Milli Majlis and the National Council of Slovakia?
A short while ago, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the parliaments of Slovakia and Azerbaijan. This is a very important moment because it states that we want to support each other. In particular, we intend to expand cooperation at the level of the committees of the National Council.
We want to support our governments because we face many challenges. Issues such as artificial intelligence and how it can help us, or how we can protect our children and young generation, are important for parliaments. This is related to culture, as well as to the younger generation. We declared that we want to organize exchange visits between young people from Slovakia and Azerbaijan.
Of course, we have governments, leaders and presidents. But in the end, everything must be implemented within the legislative framework. Parliaments are responsible for voting “for” or “against” legislation. Legislation is the foundation for governing the country and serving the people.
- Energy today is the foundation of Europe’s security. Slovakia has great interest in Azerbaijani gas. How do you see the development of the “Solidarity Ring” initiative, and what role does Azerbaijan play in ensuring your country’s energy stability?
The “Solidarity Ring” is very important for all European countries. Azerbaijan plays and will continue to play a key role here. There are already gas pipelines from Azerbaijan passing through countries neighboring Slovakia. We still need to interconnect these pipelines. There is an agreement that from 2028 Azerbaijan will supply us with gas for 10 years. On the one hand, this means business for Azerbaijan.
On the other hand, it is extremely important for our country. We were completely dependent on Russian gas and oil. But because of sanctions, we had to find other pipelines and other routes to bring energy resources into our country.
“Slovakia’s green energy business could invest in hydro and solar energy projects in Karabakh”
- How do you assess the potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Slovakia in renewable energy, including green energy and hydrogen projects?
This morning, I had a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev. He said there is huge potential in green energy, hydrogen energy and solar energy. This could become a major opportunity for investors from our country.
Slovakia and Azerbaijan are not dependent on other countries in terms of electricity. We have nuclear energy, hydro energy and solar energy. Azerbaijan is also not dependent on other countries.
But what could the future look like? Slovakia’s green energy business could invest in Azerbaijan, in Karabakh, in hydro and solar energy projects. Green energy is the future. Renewable and nuclear energy are also inevitable sectors. Especially in the field of energy, there are huge opportunities for business cooperation between Slovakia and Azerbaijan.
“I think the defense industry is a very promising sector”
- Beyond the energy sector, which areas of Azerbaijan’s economy are of greatest interest to Slovak investors? Are new joint investment projects expected?
I think the defense industry is a very promising sector. These days, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defense and Minister of Defense Industry are in Bratislava. A major defense industry exhibition is being held there. In autumn, Slovakia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense will visit Azerbaijan because a major exhibition called ADEX will be held in Baku.
In the future, we will create joint projects. Defense industry equipment will be produced both in Slovakia and in Azerbaijan. Because of all these challenges and global conflicts, the defense industry is one of the most promising business sectors.
Of course, there is also tourism, information technologies and other sectors. But the defense industry is probably the most promising one.
As a parliament, we want to support business as well. Sometimes special legislation is needed for direct business cooperation. As I mentioned earlier, we want to establish joint ventures. We want Slovak and Azerbaijani companies to be able to produce specialized defense industry products either in Slovakia or in Azerbaijan. Therefore, alongside the energy sector, the defense industry is certainly one of the most important sectors of the future.
From my perspective as Speaker of Parliament, it is also very important to use new technologies such as artificial intelligence in order to support us in preparing legislation and to protect us.
Today, it is not always easy to distinguish what is real and what is the product of artificial intelligence. Parliaments are the best platforms for exchanging experience in this regard.
“Trans-Caspian routes will play a very important role”
- Do you see opportunities to expand cooperation in transport and logistics, particularly within the framework of the Middle Corridor and the development of Trans-Caspian routes?
Yes, the Trans-Caspian routes are very promising. We know that there was the Silk Road initiative connecting China and Asian countries with Europe.
Therefore, the Caspian routes will play a very important role. Of course, energy resources and new pipelines are also important. You have to produce energy and oil, you have to have gas, but at the same time, you need transit opportunities, otherwise you cannot sell it. This is also a very promising area.
I think another promising sector is education. It is important to offer special scholarships to Azerbaijani students, while also giving Slovak tourists the opportunity to discover Azerbaijan.
“I believe the first flight between Baku and Bratislava will begin in October 2026”
- One of the most anticipated practical steps in our relations is the launch of direct flights between Baku and Bratislava. At what stage are the negotiations on this issue currently?
I hope and believe that the first flight between Baku and Bratislava will begin in October 2026, and I think this will bring very positive results. It will create major opportunities for business, tourism and volunteer exchanges.
First, your businesspeople and citizens will discover Slovakia. They will see that it is both very similar and very different, and that very nice people live there.
On the other hand, Slovak businesspeople and citizens will discover Azerbaijan. They will be able to see Baku, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
They can discover your ski resorts or the recreation areas along the Caspian Sea coast. In this way, they can find special destinations for both winter and summer holidays. They can make friends, and of course, direct flights are always very important for business.
“There will be a part of Slovakia in the heart of Karabakh”
- Slovakia is actively involved in the reconstruction of Azerbaijan’s liberated territories, particularly in the development of the “smart village” project in Bash Garvand. What can you say about the current stage of this project and Slovakia’s contribution to the reconstruction of Karabakh?
I visited Karabakh in 2022, and there was nothing there. After the war, the situation truly looked like the surface of the Moon.
We received an offer to become the first foreign European investors in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories and to begin rebuilding this new “Smart Village.” We are very grateful for this opportunity. It is business for our companies, but at the same time, it is an opportunity to build a village for 5,000 people with full infrastructure and to show Azerbaijan that Slovakia also has strong construction companies.
It is also about friendship. I am sure that everyone wants to build, invest and do business in Azerbaijan. But we received this opportunity, and for that I am very thankful.
I am sure this will become a symbol of Slovakia-Azerbaijan cooperation. Because there will be a part of Slovakia in the heart of Karabakh. This is very symbolic and also very important.
“There is no reason for any resolution against Azerbaijan”
- What contribution can Slovakia make to bringing Azerbaijan and the European Union closer together?
This is a very important question, especially for Azerbaijan. We can see that there is still some unjustified pressure against Azerbaijan. From my point of view, and from the perspective of the Slovak government and parliament, Azerbaijan is a developed democratic country.
However, because of pressure from some other countries, attempts are being made to adopt resolutions against Azerbaijan in the European Parliament. During my meetings with speakers of parliament from other EU member states, I explain to them that this is not correct. This is Slovakia’s role. I am convinced that Azerbaijan deserves fair relations with the European Union.
There is no reason to adopt any resolution against Azerbaijan. I think Slovakia can help your country in this direction and show, based on its own experience, that Azerbaijan is a very important country for Europe.
“We have very close dialogue with Ukraine”
- Mr. Speaker, how would you characterize the current state of relations between Slovakia and Ukraine? Is any “warming” in bilateral dialogue expected in the near future?
We have very close dialogue with Ukraine because they are our neighbors. However, they are highly dependent on us, because more than 40 percent of Ukraine’s electricity demand is supplied by Slovakia.
We have opened two Ukrainian schools. If you calculate the number of Ukrainian refugees per capita, we are among the top three countries. After the war began, we helped them and were among the first countries to provide assistance.
A very unique point is that we have already organized three joint meetings of the Slovak and Ukrainian governments. Two were held in Slovakia and one in Ukraine. Therefore, I think relations are stable.
Of course, from time to time there are certain tensions. But I hope that the most important thing for Slovakia is achieving a ceasefire and signing a peace agreement as soon as possible. This is important not only for Slovakia, but for all of Europe.
Aygun Charchiyeva
Ilgar Khudiyev
Photo - Ilkin Nabiyev ©️ APA GROUP
