The political scientist said the official statistics of the trade turnover between the two countries in 2021 have not been released yet.

“Most likely, the turnover has decreased,” Kydyrbekuly said, referring to last year’s meeting between Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration Bakhyt Sultanov and Azerbaijan’s Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov.

“At the meeting, it was noted that mutual trade will double. The parties discussed the creation of industrial cooperation, underscoring the need for Azerbaijan to get access to the Eurasian commodity production system. I think that after the pandemic it is quite possible,” he added.

Kydyrbekuly expressed confidence that Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan will manage to further deepen relations this year.

As for Nursultan Nazarbayev’s proposal for inviting Azerbaijan as an observer to the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the political scientist said the first Kazakh president’s proposal is of the nature of equal cooperation.

“Yerevan and Baku have not yet normalized bilateral relations. First of all, Baku is unlikely to agree to integration into the EAEU. Secondly, Russia constantly puts pressure on all members of the organization, adhering to discrimination and double standards. Initially, Russia is actively trying to turn the union of equal members into an instrument of its diktat, since the CIS exists very formally. Thirdly, after the liberation of its lands, Azerbaijan truly felt itself an independent, strong, and self-sufficient state. Given all this, I do not think that such a union will be beneficial to Azerbaijan,” he said.

“Kazakhstan has not received any major benefits from its membership in the EAEU. Trade wars between members take place within the organization. Russia floods Kazakhstan with its goods and does not allow Kazakhstan to unfold within itself. Moreover, Russia is striving to turn this organization into a political one. After all this, does Azerbaijan need to join the EAEU? ” Kydyrbekuly added.

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