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Ambassador of Norway Kingdom to Azerbaijan John Romberg: “Wider application of EITI in Azerbaijan is necessary”Ambassador of Norway Kingdom to Azerbaijan John Romberg: “Wider application of EITI in Azerbaijan is necessary”
 | “… We want to be constructive partner of Azerbaijan in development of democracy and provision of law supremacy”
Ambassador John Romberg: “Wider application of EITI in Azerbaijan is necessary”
“Azerbaijan has ancient, honorable history and culture”
Embassy of Norway Kingdom to Azerbaijan has ever proved as active supporter of democracy, mass-media and development of the civil community. Presently this support is rendered by John Romberg, the present ambassador of the Norway Kingdom to Azerbaijan. Mr. Ambassador personally and the employees of the Embassy has actively participated in all arrangements and meeting devoted to the civil community institutes, development of democratic processes and media. Furthermore, besides the democratic values, the Norway Embassy closely observes the activity of our country within the frames of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and cooperates with the governmental and non-governmental organizations acting in this direction. From this point of view, Mr. Ambassador is one of the interesting persons for the members of the Extractive Industries Transparency Increasing Coalition aiming to transparently and productively spend the incomes from exploitation of the natural resources in Azerbaijan as well as the readers of the “Extractive Industries TRANSPARENCY” Magazine. Considering the aforesaid, we decided to interview Mr. John Romberg, the Ambassador of Norway Kingdom to Azerbaijan for our magazine. Using the opportunity we tried to learn the opinions of our interlocutor regarding Declaration of Intention for involvement to EITI accepted by the Norway government this year as well as the level of human development and successes gained in the field of productive management of oil incomes in this country.
1. Mr. Ambassador, some words about yourself – your diplomatic activity and your appointment to Azerbaijan- for our readers
Last year I became a grandfather! is the first which springs to my mind upon that question. A great experience, although so far enjoyed mostly at some distance.
My diplomatic activity started some 33 years ago. Before that I was for a short time a journalist. But that time, and the fact that my father and a favourite uncle also were newspapermen, shaped attitudes and values in me which are highly relevant to our subject today.
I have been posted to Cape Town, The Hague, Islamabad and Bonn before Baku. In the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs I have been working in many areas – security policy, resource policy incl. fishing, energy, polar affairs, press affairs etc.
An embassy is a place where all these issues come together. So I feel it has been useful that I have not been a specialist but a generalist.
2. What can you say about our country, traditions, habits, people, history, culture and kitchen as well?
That is too broad a question for me to answer at any reasonable length. The very short version is that Azerbaijan has a long and proud history as well as culture, some daunting challenges and great opportunities. And the kitchen is excellent, in particular your vegetables!
3. Norwegian ambassadors to Azerbaijan have always been different from the others with their loyalty to democracy, support to mass media and civil society. Interesting to know what is the connection being especially different.
This is of course a compliment which I like to hear. It is true that those values are dear to us and that we would like to be a constructive partner in Azerbaijan’s efforts to consolidate democracy and the rule of law. We want to strengthen European values in Azerbaijan so that we would come closer. That would, by the way, be good for business, too.
4. Norway is considered one of the leading countries according to the situation of human rights and economic development. How did you achieve this?
Maybe because there were never any dramatic differences in wealth – Norway has always been a fairly egalitarian society. As we sing in our national anthem. “cottages and houses and no castles”.
5. Your country has passed very interesting and exemplary way in the management of oil revenues. For the time being some countries have chosen to learn and apply this experience. What should be taken as a priority in the efficient and transparent use of the oil revenues taking the Norwegian experience?
The main point is that there should be transparency and political accountability through the whole political-economical system which deals with the petroleum fortune.
6. What about the role of the parliament, civil society institutions, media in the management of oil revenues in your country?
All these are important. Parliament by us is the ultimate power. Civil society has many ways to participate in the discussion of how to use the petroleum fortune, ultimately through voting. The media tells us what is going on – and what is not going so well.
7. Norway has announced a statement of memorandum to join EITI in the last EITI conference in Doha. As you know, mainly the developing countries joined to this initiative. Norway is an exception in this regard. What is the reason of joining to the initiative for a country like Norway which is democratically stable and economically developed? Does Norway need EITI or does EITI need Norway?
The international secretariat for EITI is in Norway, we have taken over from the British, who started the whole thing. It is an important element in Norwegian foreign policy. We realised that if we were to promote it with credibility, we had to implement EITI also formally, although the underlying principles were already being practised. It was not least our Azerbaijani friends and colleagues who made this point.
8. How do you evaluate the role of Azerbaijan in EITI?
EITI in Azerbaijan is extremely important. Through EITI and SOFAZ you have laid the groundwork for politically responsible and transparent management of your income from oil and gas, which will rise steeply in the years ahead and might and should consolidate Azerbaijan as a democratic welfare state where the law reigns supreme. It is a terrific opportunity – and a great responsibility.
9. Do you think that it is necessary to expand EITI initiatives? Does the Norwegian government have new ideas? In general, what kind of innovations is needed in the whole world in order to increase transparency and accountability in EITI process?
I think maybe the need is greater for EITI to expand geographically than substantially. But its basic principles – again, of transparency and political accountability – should be implemented more broadly in many EITI countries, also in the one which is actually the world leader – Azerbaijan.
10. Azerbaijan is having huge amount of oil incomes and big part of these incomes are directed to the economy. It is interesting to know your opinion towards the policy of Azerbaijan on the use of oil incomes.
It’s not for me as a foreigner to judge. As I said, you have made a good start with EITI and SOFAZ. And that means that you have a basis - the figures, most importantly - on which to discuss the broader issue of management of the petroleum economy. And I see that this discussion is catching on and the EITI coalition is a broad and vigorous one.
11. According to some information Norway has lost 72 billion USD in the financial crisis. To which extend does it coincide with the reality?
We haven’t lost anything, because we haven’t sold anything. Our oil fund is for the very long term. Hopefully, when the shares eventually are being sold, we shall have made a profit. Certainly, shares have been quite cheap recently – good to buy!
12. There is information in the world press that Norwegian oil and gas reserve is coming to an end very speedily. Does your country consider this perspective to be a real? And are the adequate measures prepared to be taken?
Of course our reserves, like yours, will eventually come to and end. Other forms of energy will take over, which is also necessary to battle pollution and climate warming. And we shall find other industries from which to prosper. That’s why it is so important that we invest wisely and for the future. The challenge is, as is acknowledged in the name of your programme for granting scholarships to student going abroad: “Turning Black Gold into Human Gold”.
13. Do you think that the participation of civil society and its contribution is enough in the management of oil incomes in Azerbaijan?
The discussion is there, and I feel that it is increasing.
14. There is no doubt that strengthening of civil society in Azerbaijan is one of the vital conditions of this process. But the latest events showed that there are enough forces indented to monopoly the civil society and frame it. How should the conception of Azerbaijani civil society be, according to you?
Again, a foreigner should be reluctant to give precise advice. If you are thinking of the draft NGO law, I think the withdrawal of the most controversial clauses shows that the importance of public debate. The result was a better law – and at the same time a demonstration that civil society in Azerbaijan is capable of taking on a challenge. Because I think it is fair to say that some of the draft clauses would have had a negative effect on the ability of civil society, as expressed in the EITI coalition, to carry on this vital public discussion. |
 
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Last correction date of the file: 26/12/2009 - 14:59:34
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