Azerbaijani president holds key talks with UK, Albanian PMs at COP29

On November 12, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan held a series of important meetings with international leaders on the sidelines of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku.

His discussions with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, and the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, focused on key issues such as climate change, regional security, and energy cooperation.

President Ilham Aliyev welcomed UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to Baku, marking the British leader’s first visit to Azerbaijan, which was hailed as historically significant for the UK-Azerbaijan relationship, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Prime Minister Starmer congratulated Azerbaijan on its successful hosting of COP29, commending the country’s leadership and efficient organization of the event despite the limited preparation time.

The sides highlighted the pressing global issue of climate change, with Prime Minister Starmer reaffirming that it remains a top priority for the UK. The UK also acknowledged Azerbaijan's contributions to international climate efforts.

A key topic of discussion was the progress made on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which President Aliyev described as a positive outcome of COP29 negotiations. The leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation in energy, focusing on a solar plant construction project in Azerbaijan’s Jabrayil district, which is being funded by bp. This project is expected to significantly contribute to Azerbaijan's transition to renewable energy and help decarbonize operations at the Sangachal terminal, one of the world’s largest oil and gas terminals.

Additionally, Prime Minister Starmer expressed the UK’s support for Azerbaijan’s demining efforts, underscoring the importance of continued collaboration in this area.

Regarding regional security, President Aliyev provided an update on the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He noted that significant progress had been made, particularly in border delimitation and demarcation, with over 12 kilometers of the border already agreed upon. The President stressed the importance of removing territorial claims from Armenia’s Constitution and preparing both populations for peace to move forward in the treaty negotiations.

Later the same day, President Ilham Aliyev met with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, with a particular focus on energy cooperation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic), Albania's Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, and the Albgaz company. The SOCAR-led initiative aims to significantly contribute to Albania’s decarbonization efforts, particularly in the city of Korçë, by reducing the use of coal and firewood.

Prime Minister Rama expressed his gratitude to Aliyev for his impactful speech at the opening of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit at COP29, praising the Azerbaijani president’s leadership on climate change issues.

The leaders also discussed the ongoing positive development of bilateral relations, including cooperation in tourism, investment, and other sectors. Both sides emphasized their shared commitment to supporting each other within international organizations, further strengthening the ties between Azerbaijan and Albania.

By Vafa Guliyeva