Lithuania’s envoy hails Azerbaijani cuisine, praises tourism potential
Acountry’s every step to facilitate the obtaining of visas by citizens of other states is already a big progress to improve the tourist exchange, said Lithuanian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Valdas Lastauskas in his interview with Trend.
Azerbaijan's simplification of visa procedures for foreign citizens, starting from January 2017 is definitely a positive step, which will definitely have a positive impact on the development of tourism in the country, noted Lastauskas.
The ambassador said that the Azerbaijani government’s decision on simplification of visa procedures for foreigners will lead to increase in tourist traffic between Azerbaijan and Lithuania, and the two countries’ diplomatic missions in Baku and Vilnius will do everything possible for that.
Lithuanian tourists will be interested to come to Azerbaijan, get acquainted with the sights of Baku and regions, taste national dishes, enjoy the hospitality of the Azerbaijani people and feel comfortable here, said the ambassador.
"As you know, Lithuania is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, where, as we joke, it is cold 10 months a year and high rainfall," noted the diplomat, adding that there is a beautiful nature in Lithuania.
Azerbaijan, with its favorable weather, sun, warm sea, beaches, beautiful nature, forests, lakes, mountains will attract more and more tourists from Lithuania, added Lastauskas.
The diplomat believes that Lithuanian tourists, fans of winter holidays, will surely be attracted by one of the best ski resorts in the region – Shahdag Mountain Resort, which will be one of the essential tourism destinations in Azerbaijan.
Many Lithuanian tourists, who, in recent years, are expanding the geography of their traveling further, and have visited and loved it here in Azerbaijan, he said.
"I think that over time, the number of those wishing to visit your beautiful country will increase," added the Lithuanian ambassador.
"My first acquaintance with the Azerbaijani national cuisine took place many years ago. It happened not in Azerbaijan but in a completely different country, in an Azerbaijani restaurant where I tried Sheki piti (a soup made with mutton and vegetables) for the first time. The taste is excellent. For me, personally, the Sheki piti is the basis of the national cuisine. Of course, the list of my favorite dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine expanded after my arrival in Azerbaijan," the diplomat said.
"The list includes such dishes as Baku dushbara (small dumplings filled with lamb, served in broth), Lankarani levengi (a casserole of chicken or fish stuffed with walnuts and herbs), Shamkir tomatoes, sweets – Guba baklava, shakarbura, etc. But piti is still the best. At times, I do cook it myself at home."
"My friends and acquaintances in Lithuania already know the taste of the Azerbaijani tea and baklava, which I always bring them as a gift when I go home. But my main finding is Mulberry oghi (fruit vodka) – a traditional drink of the people in the Azerbaijani Western regions, and liqueur made of walnuts, which is prepared only in Nakhchivan," he said. "These two drinks, having many healing powers, can deservedly become Azerbaijan’s national brand and be exported to other countries, in Lithuania as well."
"I would be very happy if restaurants of Azerbaijani cuisine are opened in Lithuania, I would like to see more Lithuanians become acquainted with this rich and varied cuisine. Unfortunately, there are no such restaurants in our country yet," Lastauskas said.
"Of course, the South Caucasian cuisine is presented in Lithuania, it is more of a mixed cuisine, but I would like to see a separate Azerbaijani restaurant. I hope that Azerbaijani entrepreneurs will fill the void and make the Lithuanians happy with delicious dishes of your cuisine," the envoy said.
The envoy further said that the Lithuanian government is ready to introduce certain benefits and guarantees for Azerbaijani investors in order to attract them to economic zones.
“Today, there are Azerbaijani investments in the tourism sector of Lithuania. This is, firstly, the construction of hotels in the zones of business tourism,” noted the diplomat.
“Many Azerbaijani investors are interested in this type of activity, and benefits and guarantees are being considered for them.”
Lastauskas said that Lithuania has five free economic zones, which may be interesting for Azerbaijani investors.
He noted that Lithuania’s seven free economic zones are located in the country’s economic centers and offer excellent conditions for business development by providing ready industrial areas with necessary infrastructure supporting services and tax benefits.
The enterprises that will work in these zones are exempt from income tax for six years, and will pay a tax in the amount of 7.5 percent in the next ten years, said the diplomat.
He went on to add that those enterprises don’t pay revenue taxes and real estate taxes.
Via Lithuania one can also enter the European market, and Klaipeda Seaport, railway lines, highways are a good opportunity for this, the ambassador said.
Azerbaijan also opens good opportunities for Lithuanian investors, Lastauskas said.
In May 2016, Baku hosted the meeting of representatives of railway agencies of Lithuania, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Bulgaria, Georgia and operators of the 'Viking' train project.
The Azerbaijan Railways CJSC submitted a letter on joining the Viking international railway project. The protocol was signed by all participants of the project. Azerbaijan’s Karvan Logistics was defined operator of the 'Viking' train through the country’s territory.
The diplomat noted that Lithuania supports this project and is doing everything possible to make this supply route of goods from the East to the West and from the South to West via the Baltic Sea and further to Scandinavia attractive.
"There are many players in the market,” Lastauskas added. “According to the statistics, the freight traffic among Western Europe, the Far East and China tripled from 2005 to 2015. It means that the flow will continue to increase.”
“The best conditions for the transportation of these goods should be offered,” the ambassador added. “In this regard, the project has good opportunities. The route covers several countries. A number of technical
issues, including those in the field of customs procedures, must be solved."
“There are no obstacles for the development of cooperation in the economic sphere,” the diplomat added. “It is possible to improve relations in this field and increase the trade turnover level.”
The diplomat said that the trade relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania expanded and the trade turnover increased from 2011 to 2015.
"The crisis has affected the economic relations between Azerbaijan and Lithuania since 2016 and the trade turnover even slightly decreased,” he added. “But the main thing is that all main conditions for work are available. We have a good legal framework that protects investments and
joint projects. The cooperation between regions of the two countries is being more and more developed every year and it is beneficial for both countries."
There are many areas for cooperation, the envoy said, adding that the most important is desire and mutual interest.
“Lithuania is glad that Azerbaijan and the European Union intend to soon start negotiations on a strategic partnership agreement. This will also expand opportunities of Lithuania as an EU member country for further strengthening of cooperation with Azerbaijan,” he said.
The European Council adopted a mandate for the European Commission and the high representative for foreign affairs and security policy to negotiate, on behalf of the EU and its member states, a comprehensive agreement with Azerbaijan in November 2016.
The new agreement should replace the 1996 partnership and cooperation agreement and should better take account of the shared objectives and challenges the EU and Azerbaijan face today.
The agreement will follow the principles endorsed in the 2015 review of the European Neighborhood Policy and offer a renewed basis for political dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan.