Polish foreign minister condoles with Azerbaijani counterpart over deadly plane crash

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski held a phone conversation with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Jeyhun Bayramov, offering condolences for the recent tragic crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) passenger plane.

During the call, Minister Sikorski extended Poland's sympathies to the Azerbaijani government and people, reiterating his country’s readiness to provide technical assistance in investigating the cause of the accident. Minister Bayramov expressed gratitude for the solidarity and support shown by Poland, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.

The two officials also discussed key priorities for Poland’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, set to begin shortly. Topics included enhancing Azerbaijan-EU relations, as well as the future of the Eastern Partnership initiative.

Both ministers underscored the strong potential for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Poland in areas such as politics, economics, alternative energy, and humanitarian issues. They agreed that increased high-level visits and intensified political dialogue are crucial for strengthening bilateral ties.

In addition, the conversation covered regional and international security matters, highlighting the importance of continued collaboration to address shared challenges.

On December 25, 2024, an AZAL passenger flight travelling from Baku to Grozny crashed near the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan. Of the 67 people on board, 38 lost their lives, while 29 survived. Preliminary investigations point to the possibility of external physical and technical interference as factors contributing to the crash.

By Vugar Khalilov