Azerbaijan's Deputy FM meets EU Special Representative to discuss regional security

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov held talks with Magdalena Grono, the European Union’s Special Representative for the South Caucasus, as part of ongoing dialogue on regional and bilateral issues.

At the start of the meeting, Magdalena Grono expressed condolences over the recent tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines aircraft. She reiterated the EU’s immediate readiness to assist Azerbaijan following the incident, Caliber.Az reports via the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The discussions focused on enhancing Azerbaijan-EU cooperation in various areas, including economy, trade, energy, and transportation. Both sides underlined Azerbaijan’s crucial role in ensuring Europe’s energy security, particularly in light of future projects aimed at exporting green energy resources to the EU.

Grono and Mammadov also explored avenues for strengthening collaboration on environmental protection, ecological challenges, and green transition efforts. These discussions gained particular relevance following Azerbaijan’s successful hosting of the 29th session of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in November 2024.

A significant portion of the meeting addressed regional security and the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Deputy Minister Mammadov briefed Grono on the current status of peace negotiations, progress achieved in bilateral discussions, and the challenges posed by landmine contamination, which continues to hinder the return of internally displaced persons to their native lands.

The issue of missing Azerbaijanis from the former Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and efforts to restore regional connectivity were also highlighted. Mammadov called for greater EU support in addressing these pressing concerns.

The Azerbaijani side raised concerns over the EU Mission in Armenia and the European Peace Facility’s financial assistance enabling Armenia’s rearmament, stressing that such actions undermine peace and fuel revanchist tendencies.

The meeting concluded with a constructive exchange of views on other bilateral and regional topics, reaffirming the commitment of both parties to deepening cooperation.

By Vugar Khalilov