Azerbaijan, Slovakia discuss deepening ties during parliamentary delegation visit PHOTO

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has held talks with a delegation led by the Speaker of the Slovak National Council, Richard Raši, in Baku, with discussions focusing on expanding bilateral cooperation across political, economic and regional issues.

President Aliyev recalled his official visit to Slovakia last year and his previous meetings with Slovak officials, including Raši. He stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in strengthening friendly and partnership-based relations between the two countries, Caliber.Az reports via state media.

Raši, for his part, expressed appreciation for the reception and reiterated Slovakia’s interest in developing ties with Azerbaijan. He also referred to his earlier visit to Azerbaijan in 2022, during which he travelled to Shusha, and said he intended to visit Karabakh again during this trip, including Khankendi and the Karabakh University.

The Slovak speaker also welcomed progress on the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, congratulating Baku on recent developments in the process. President Aliyev outlined Azerbaijan’s ongoing efforts to support regional stability and noted emerging economic links, including trade in oil products.

The two sides highlighted a strategic partnership, with discussions covering energy, transport, defence industry cooperation, education, culture, tourism and high technology. They also underlined the role of interparliamentary contacts in sustaining political dialogue.

Attention was also drawn to Slovak involvement in reconstruction projects in Azerbaijan’s territories affected by past conflict, including the village of Bash Garvand in the Aghdam district.

Both sides further discussed cooperation within international parliamentary organisations. The meeting also noted plans to launch direct flights between Baku and Bratislava, a move expected to boost tourism and people-to-people exchanges.

By Vugar Khalilov