Azerbaijan to assume CICA chairmanship from Kazakhstan at upcoming ministerial meeting

Azerbaijan will take over the chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) from Kazakhstan at the upcoming seventh meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on December 17.

According to CICA, an online session of the Senior Officials Committee (SOC) was held under the co-chairmanship of Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Bakayev and Ambassador-at-Large Talgat Kaliyev, with the participation of CICA Secretary-General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

This meeting marked the final preparatory stage for the upcoming ministerial session.

In his opening remarks, Alibek Bakayev wished the committee success and expressed confidence that the “spirit of CICA,” rooted in mutual respect and cooperation, would guide discussions and lead to productive outcomes.

The SOC's primary goal was to ensure successful outcomes at the ministerial session, which will showcase CICA's achievements since the last summit in Astana in 2022 and lay the groundwork for Azerbaijan’s 2024-2026 chairmanship.

Senior officials achieved a breakthrough in reviewing and finalizing key documents for ministerial approval. Notably, consensus was reached on the draft Statement of the CICA Council of Ministers commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Declaration of Principles governing relations among member states. This statement will serve as the central political outcome of the CFM session.

Secretary-General Kairat Sarybay also updated the SOC on logistical and organizational matters to ensure the smooth and efficient conduct of the ministerial meeting.

Discussions at the SOC reaffirmed member states' collective commitment to advancing multilateral dialogue and cooperation across Asia.

By Khagan Isayev