Baku, Vienna explore new opportunities for broader partnership PHOTO

Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has met with Austria’s newly appointed Ambassador to Azerbaijan, Etienne Berchtold, with the two sides discussing prospects for expanding bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors.

Berchtold presented a copy of his credentials to FM Bayramov. The minister congratulated the ambassador on his appointment and wished him success in his diplomatic mission, Caliber.Az reports, citing Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry.

The sides reviewed cooperation in the political, economic, energy, transport, tourism, humanitarian and other fields, emphasizing the importance of maintaining active political dialogue.

They noted that reciprocal visits and high-level contacts, the mechanism of political consultations, and interparliamentary ties could contribute significantly to further strengthening bilateral relations.

The officials also discussed cooperation within multilateral organizations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the European Union. They stressed the importance of closer coordination and mutual support within these platforms.

Bayramov congratulated Austria on its election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2027–2028 and expressed hope that the two countries would further enhance cooperation within the council.

Energy and transport were also high on the agenda, with the sides reviewing strategic projects implemented at Azerbaijan’s initiative and with its direct involvement. They highlighted Azerbaijan’s role in contributing to Europe’s energy security and welcomed the start of Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to Austria in January this year.

The meeting also covered regional developments, including the post-conflict situation, the Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process and Baku’s efforts to establish lasting peace and stability. The large-scale reconstruction and restoration efforts underway in Azerbaijan’s liberated territories were also discussed.

Berchtold described Azerbaijan as an important and reliable partner for Austria and pledged to work toward further expanding bilateral cooperation across all areas during his tenure.

The officials also exchanged views on other regional and international issues of mutual interest.

By Vafa Guliyeva