Azerbaijan strengthens ties with Iran, EU, focuses on regional security, cooperation PHOTO

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Mehdi Sanaei, political advisor to the Iranian President, to discuss the prospects for bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The meeting covered a wide range of topics, including regional security issues, as well as the prospects for further strengthening political, economic, and multilateral ties, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry told Caliber.Az.

The sides emphasized the importance of continued mutual visits, enhanced political dialogue, and sustained contacts in fostering the development of Azerbaijani-Iranian relations. It was noted that the regular discussion of issues of common interest plays a pivotal role in expanding bilateral cooperation.

Key areas of collaboration discussed during the meeting included politics, economy, trade, energy security, and transport and communications. The two officials recognized the significant contributions of joint projects between Baku and Tehran, particularly in the development of regional transport corridors. These projects are seen as vital for promoting connectivity and enhancing trade between the two countries.

The role of the Azerbaijan-Iran Joint Commission on Economic, Trade, and Humanitarian Cooperation was also highlighted during the discussions. Both sides acknowledged the commission’s contributions and underscored the need to further strengthen bilateral cooperation within regional and international organizations. These include the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation.

The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the importance of continued partnership and mutual support in addressing regional and international challenges. Both Bayramov and Sanaei expressed optimism about the future of Azerbaijan-Iran relations, emphasizing the potential for further deepening collaboration across various sectors.

FM Bayramov also met with Simon Mordue, Deputy Secretary General of the European External Action Service (EEAS), and Magdalena Grono, European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus

The meeting focused on the current state of and future prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union, as well as key regional and international issues of mutual interest.

The discussion encompassed several critical areas, including economic collaboration, trade, energy security, and green energy. Both sides acknowledged the importance of major energy projects initiated by Azerbaijan, which play a crucial role in ensuring Europe's energy supply and bolstering energy security. The necessity of continuing cooperation in both traditional and alternative energy sectors was also highlighted.

During the meeting, Minister Bayramov provided a detailed update on the situation in the South Caucasus in the post-conflict period. He emphasized Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts in the post-conflict period, which include large-scale reconstruction projects in the liberated territories and active humanitarian demining operations.

Bayramov also noted that while progress has been made in the normalization process between Baku and Yerevan, the persistence of territorial claims in the Armenian Constitution and the rapid arming of Armenia pose significant threats to the advancement of the peace agenda in the region.

The discussions further touched upon the cooperation between Azerbaijan and the EU in demining efforts and the investigation into the fate of missing persons, two critical issues for the region. Both sides expressed their commitment to continued collaboration in these areas, as well as in broader efforts to ensure regional stability and security.

By Vafa Guliyeva