Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Ambassador, what is the main factor determining the dynamics and nature of bilateral relations between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan?
Milan Sedláček, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Czech Republic to the Republic of Azerbaijan: The main factor in all relations is undoubtedly mutual respect in all areas, whether political, economic, cultural, or social. I have always tried to respect the social and cultural context, reality, and traditions of a given country, which I consider to be the most important thing. The Czech Republic has one indisputable advantage, namely that your citizens are relatively well acquainted not only with the Czech Republic as a tourist destination – Prague, Karlovy Vary – but also your political representatives are well aware that we are a partner you can rely on. Add to that very good personal relationships, and you have several key determining factors.
CE: Does today’s global agenda support the strengthening and expansion of diplomatic relations between different regions and countries?
Milan Sedláček: Without regional relations, the global agenda would be meaningless, empty, and false. That is why I attach great importance to regional cooperation. I have always been an advocate of strong and sovereign bilateral relations.
CE: As an experienced diplomat with a long career, what advice would you give to young diplomats? How will their work differ from that of the older generation, and what challenges are they likely to face?
Milan Sedláček: Diplomacy, unfortunately, has lost much of its original meaning and significance. If this were not the case, the world would not be in the state it is in today. In diplomacy, personal contact is most important, as is the fact that partners talk to each other, even those who are currently in a hostile relationship. “Not talking to each other” is practiced in elementary school and at most in high school, and does not have such fatal consequences as when it is practiced by statesmen. I’m not sure if some things can still be fixed, I’m afraid not. So the advice is - humility, independence, sovereignty, respect, elegant toughness, but above all communication... and expensive, luxurious, hand-made shoes.
CE: During your time in Baku, trade turnover between the two countries exceeded $1 billion. What potential do you see for EU and Czech investment in the South Caucasus?
Milan Sedláček: The South Caucasus region offers significant investment potential for both the EU and the Czech Republic, particularly in the areas of energy, transport, trade, and environmental projects.
Huge European funds (CEF, EIB, EFSI, ERDF, Horizon), together with Czech companies and agencies, create a favorable environment for entering regional markets, supporting stability, and strengthening economic integration.
The Czech Republic has real opportunities to expand its position in the supply of technology, infrastructure, and know-how in cooperation with local governments and EU structures.
The Czech Republic is seeking to diversify its energy sources, and one of its key objectives is to import gas from Azerbaijan. The potential for Czech companies lies in partnerships in the areas of infrastructure, technical support, and equipment for gas transport and storage.
Azerbaijan is planning a massive expansion of renewable energy sources, which is another area of potential cooperation, as well as the modernization of transmission networks and the digitization of consumption management, the supply of transformers, cabling and control systems, and IT solutions for smart metering and consumption optimization.
As Azerbaijan is a key supplier of gas to the EU, we offer technological components for compressor stations and pipeline monitoring and safety systems.
Cooperation on the reconstruction and construction of rail and road corridors would be very interesting for our companies.
We can also supply railway components and signaling systems.
Our company, Skoda Group, has a keen interest in cooperating with Baku Metro, not only in the supply of trains and trams, but also in technology transfer, which means supporting employment and training experts.
CE: Your wife Eva Sedláček recently climbed one of the peaks of the Caucasus. What potential do you see for cooperation in the field of tourism in Azerbaijan and throughout the Caucasus region?
Milan Sedláček: There is great potential here; your country and the entire Caucasus region have all the prerequisites to become an interesting tourist destination.
We regularly organize fam trips for your journalists, influencers, and travel agencies. The purpose of these events is to familiarize your citizens with the Czech Republic even more, and I would recommend the same in reverse. Thanks to AZAL, we have a direct flight connection between Prague and Baku, and only greater awareness prevents an increase in the number of tourists from the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan.
Thank you for the interview.
