Azerbaijan, UK hold first-ever consular consultations in London PHOTO

Azerbaijan and the United Kingdom held their inaugural consular consultations in London, marking a significant step in enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

The meeting took place at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, with the Azerbaijani delegation led by Emil Safarov, Head of the Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

The British delegation was headed by Sarah Taylor, Director for Consular and Crisis Policy, alongside Mark Clayton, Deputy Head of the Central Asia and Eastern Neighbourhood Department.

The consultations were attended by a range of officials from both countries, including Elin Suleymanov, Azerbaijan's Ambassador to the United Kingdom, representatives from Azerbaijan's Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Science and Education, as well as officials from the Prosecutor General's Office. The UK delegation included key officials from the Home Office, responsible for migration, visa, and legal assistance matters.

The discussions centered around strengthening bilateral consular ties and exploring opportunities for future cooperation in the consular sphere. Key topics included the potential for signing bilateral agreements, enhancing the digitalisation of consular services, and improving crisis management mechanisms. The parties also exchanged views on the protection of citizens' rights and freedoms, visa policy, and mutual legal assistance in both civil and criminal matters.

Both sides highlighted the importance of sharing experiences and innovations in consular services, with particular emphasis on migration, education, justice, and extradition issues.

As part of the agreement, the two sides confirmed that the next round of consular consultations will be held in Baku.

By Sabina Mammadli