Opposition links closure of Norwegian Embassy in Baku with democracy regress

The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has announced its plans to close its Embassy in Baku and open it in Tbilisi. The Embassy in Turkey will be in charge of relationships with Azerbaijan, the MFA has stated. According to the opposition, the closure of the Embassy has to do with a regress of democracy in Azerbaijan.

"Georgia is our main partner in Southern Caucasus. As a result of reforms, this country has become closer to European and Euro-Atlantic structures," the MFA's website quotes Ms Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, the head of the Norwegian MFA, as saying.

The official Baku has expressed its regret about the Oslo's decision.

Ilgar Mamedov, the leader of the "Republican Alternative" (ReAl) Party, treats the closure of the Norwegian Embassy as a serious failure of the Azerbaijani diplomacy.

"Norway is known as one of the most developed democratic states. Its departure from Azerbaijan is an indicator that it has lost confidence in Azerbaijani authorities ... This is a strong blow on the country's image," said Ali Kerimli, the leader of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA).

According to Togrul Djuvarly, a member of the Azerbaijani National Public Committee for European Integration, apart from its energy interests, Norway has actively supported civil society projects.

Ilham Shaban, the head of the Centre for Oil Studies named "Caspian Barrel", does not believe that the closure of the embassy has to do with problems in bilateral relations.