Azerbaijani FM discusses priorities of Azerbaijan's chairmanship in CICA

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov held a meeting in Kazakhstan with Kairat Sarybay, the Secretary-General of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), and ambassadors from CICA member states.

The meeting focused on issues related to Azerbaijan's chairmanship of CICA, the key priorities for the country’s leadership, and efforts to expand cooperation within the organisation, Caliber.Az reports per Foreign Ministry.

It was highlighted that ongoing developments in the region and globally are strengthening the role of CICA as an inclusive platform. Furthermore, Azerbaijan’s initiatives and efforts during its chairmanship have received support from all member states.

To recall, the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an intergovernmental forum focused on promoting peace, security, and stability in Asia, recognising the interdependence between regional security and global peace. Its key principle is based on the indivisibility of security, joint initiatives, and mutually beneficial cooperation between both small and large states.

The CICA was first proposed by Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbayev on 5 October 1992 at the 47th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The forum marked its 25th anniversary on October 5, 2017.

Following the proposal, a series of meetings were held to establish the framework for CICA. The first meeting of Foreign Ministers took place on September 14, 1999, with 15 member states in attendance, resulting in the adoption of the Declaration on Principles Guiding Relations between CICA members.

The inaugural CICA summit was held on June 4, 2002, with 16 members participating. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev