President Aliyev puts Azerbaijan’s peace gains in focus at OSCE PA meeting PHOTO

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pere Joan Pons Sampietro in Baku on September 3, with discussions focusing on the progress of the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace agenda, regional stability, and the importance of a balanced approach across the OSCE area.

During the meeting, the guest congratulated Ilham Aliyev on the progress achieved in the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting that one of the conflicts in the OSCE area had been resolved, resulting in sustainable peace in the region, Caliber.Az reports, citing the presidential website.

Thanking him for the congratulations, Aliyev expressed regret that the OSCE Minsk Group, which had been responsible for resolving the conflict for nearly 30 years, had failed to achieve any results in the negotiation process. He also noted that UN Security Council resolutions demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territory had never been implemented. Aliyev said Azerbaijan had independently brought the conflict to an end through military and political means, restoring its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The sides welcomed Azerbaijan’s contacts and political dialogue with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, contrasting them with relations involving some European parliamentary institutions. They also stressed the importance of the Parliamentary Assembly adopting a balanced approach toward the entire OSCE area in its agenda.

The meeting also addressed intercultural dialogue, with the participants expressing satisfaction with Azerbaijan’s participation and contribution to the process.

Pere Joan Pons Sampietro also highlighted the importance of the ongoing 4th International Mine Action Conference on the theme “Humanitarian Demining for Urban Recovery: Setting Standards of Excellence for Safe Settlements” in Baku, noting that the landmine issue is also being discussed as part of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s agenda.