No:341/24, Press release on the meeting of Minister Jeyhun Bayramov with the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs of the United States, Joshua Huck
18 September 2024 16:17
On 18 September 2024, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, received the delegation led by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs of the United States, Joshua Huck.
During the meeting, issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States, as well as the regional situation in the post-conflict period and the prospects of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia were discussed.
Within the framework of preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which Azerbaijan will host this year, Azerbaijan–US cooperation was highly appreciated.
Despite efforts aimed at creating positive dynamics in bilateral relations and identifying cooperation prospects, it was noted that biased remarks by some US officials negatively affect bilateral relations. In this regard, referring to the statements made against Azerbaijan on 16 September by the Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Isobel Coleman, at the Embassy of Armenia in the United States, it was emphasized that such statements constitute disrespect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and aim to distort the facts regarding the anti-terror measures that put an end to the illegal presence of Armenian armed forces in Azerbaijan’s sovereign territories.
During the meeting, the other side was informed about the situation in the region in the post-conflict period, as well as the ongoing process related to normalization and the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It was recalled that Azerbaijan, as the initiator of the main elements of the peace process with Armenia, is interested in ensuring peace and stability in the region. Mine threats in the region were noted, and possible cooperation in this direction was considered.
Despite significant progress in negotiations on the peace agreement, it was stressed that the most serious obstacle to signing a final peace agreement remains the continuation of territorial claims against Azerbaijan in a number of legal and political documents of Armenia, primarily its Constitution. In addition, it was noted that Armenia’s policy of militarization does not serve peace and stability in the region.
The meeting also included an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest, including bilateral and regional matters.
