(MENAFN- AzerNews) By Fatima Hasanova
Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov had meetings with
his counterparts on the fringes of the 29th Ministerial Council of
the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in
Poland to discuss prospects for cooperation on issues of mutual
interest.
On December 1, Jeyhun Bayramov met with EU High Representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.
At the meeting, issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and the
EU in various spheres, further prospects for relations, as well as
the implementation of the agreements reached in the energy sector
were discussed. The two men also exchanged views on the efforts to
advance the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia
and the EU's role in this effect.
Bayramov blamed Armenia for creating obstacles to the peace
process, violating obligations under the agreements the leaders
have reached, and creating a false impression of the negotiation
process. The minister once again drew attention to the existing
mine danger in the territories liberated from occupation.
Josep Borrell, in his turn, underscored the strategic
partnership between Azerbaijan and the EU in the energy sector and
the great potential for development. He also stressed that the EU
intends to continue to support efforts to normalize relations
between the two countries.
On December 1, the Azerbaijani foreign minister also met with
North Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani to discuss
cooperation between the two nations in various fields,
opportunities for developing them, energy security, as well as
plans and prospects for cooperation within the framework of the
presidency of North Macedonia in the OSCE in 2023.
Bayramov provided his counterpart with detailed information
about the current situation in the region, the peace agenda between
Azerbaijan and Armenia, the process of normalization of relations
and the work done by Azerbaijan in this area, as well as the
provocations committed by Armenia, which damage the
normalization.
Expressing his appreciation for the existing bilateral
relations, Minister Osmani highly estimated Azerbaijan's
contribution to the energy security of Europe. Taking into account
the difficulties arising within the OSCE, he shared his thoughts on
strengthening the capacities of the organization.
On December 2, Jeyhun Bayramov met with his Lithuanian colleague
Gabrielius Landsbergis. Topical issues of the current agenda of
cooperation between the two countries and the situation in the
region were discussed at the meeting. They noted that Azerbaijan
and Lithuania are cooperating in political, economic, educational,
humanitarian, and other fields. The importance of mutual visits and
political dialogue for the development of relations was emphasized,
as well as Azerbaijan's ties with the EU and the work carried out
within this framework were discussed.
Jeyhun Bayramov informed his colleague in detail about the new
realities which have developed in the region after the 2020 Second
Karabakh War, the restoration and construction work carried out in
the Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenian occupation at
the post-conflict stage, the work to open communications in the
region, and the steps taken by Azerbaijan to promote the peace
agenda.
Landsbergis noted the potential for further development of
relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of
using this potential. The importance of energy security projects
being implemented in the region was emphasized. The minister also
noted that Lithuania supports the process of normalization of
relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
Another meeting on December 2 was held between Azerbaijani
Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Greek opposite number
Nikos Dendias, where the two men exchanged views on a variety of
issues on the bilateral cooperation agenda, as well as reviewed
relations in political, economic, trade, energy, humanitarian
sectors, including cooperation within international
organizations.
The officials emphasized the significance of the recent
engagements between Azerbaijan and Greece, in particular, the
meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Greek Prime
Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the opening of the Gas
Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) on October 1, 2022.
Minister Bayramov informed his colleague on the new regional
realities after the 44-day Second Karabakh War, the normalization
process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, reconstruction activities
on the liberated lands, as well as the challenges posed by Armenia
to the peace process.
The Azerbaijani top diplomat also had a meeting with OSCE
Secretary General Helga Schmid on the sidelines of the 29th
Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
They discussed various aspects of the Azerbaijani-OSCE
cooperation agenda, current problems within the OSCE, as well as
the recent developments in the South Caucasus. Bayramov updated
Schmid on Azerbaijan's peace efforts to normalize relations with
Armenia, the negotiation process, the border delimitation process
between the two countries, and the de-mining of liberated
lands.
The minister pointed out the challenges posed by Armenia to the
negotiation process, the gross violation of its obligations, as
well as the landmine problem on the liberated territories. He also
emphasized the need for OSCE support to eliminate the landmine
threat and implement projects in a number of other areas.
As OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing countries Russia, the USA, and
France had been mediating a peaceful solution to the
Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile
cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Group's efforts resulted in
no progress as Armenia refused to abide by the UN Security Council
Resolutions (822, 853, 874, and 884) demanding the immediate and
unconditional withdrawal of its troops from Azerbaijani
territories, which was the main obstacle to the resolution of the
conflict.
The trilateral ceasefire deal, signed by the Azerbaijani,
Russian and Armenian leaders on November 10, 2020, ended the
three-decade-long conflict over Azerbaijan's Nagorno-Karabakh
region, which along with the seven adjacent regions came under the
occupation of the Armenian armed forces in the war at the outset of
1990s.
On January 11, 2021, the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian
leaders signed the second statement after the end of the 44-day
war. The newly-signed statement is set to implement clause 9 of the
November 2020 statement related to the unblocking of all economic
and transport communications in the region.
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Tags: armenia poland osce azerbaijani foreign minister eu greece lithuania macedonia josep borrell ceyhun bayramov