No: 520/22 Press Release on the Meeting of Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov with the Delegation Led by Special Envoy of the European Union for the Eastern Partnership Dirk Schuebel
17 November 2022 20:00
On 17 November, Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov received the delegation led by Special Envoy of the European Union (EU) for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Dirk Schuebel. The delegation was represented by the EaP-responsible ambassadors and special envoys of the European Union and a number of member states.
At the meeting, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized that Azerbaijan-EU relations, which today are characterized by positive dynamics and intensity, are developing successfully, and that our country is interested in the development of cooperation within the framework of the EaP with the EU, both in bilateral and multilateral formats.
It was emphasized that the allocation by the EU of a financial package of 2 billion euros to our country has been positively received by the Azerbaijani side, and that the initiative to establish a high-level working group to jointly identify and prioritize future investments is important.
Minister J. Bayramov touched upon the existence of an energy dialogue between Azerbaijan and the EU, covering many areas, including oil, gas and renewable energy sources, and emphasized the importance of the Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the field of energy, which envisages doubling the transportation of gas to the EU.
Emphasizing that the existing trade turnover between Azerbaijan and the EU is a source of satisfaction and that there is great potential for future cooperation, the Minister touched upon the opportunities for further increasing this turnover.
Minister J. Bayramov also touched upon the post-conflict period, providing information on our country's views regarding the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, the delimitation of borders, the opening of transport and communications, and the peace agenda. Alongside other efforts, the activity of the President of the EU Council towards creating a constructive environment between the two countries was noted.
The meeting also provided information on the existing threat of mines, and emphasized the importance of efforts by the European Union and its member states in eliminating this problem.
The head of the European Union delegation touched upon Azerbaijan's growing role as an energy supplier amid today's geopolitical realities, and highly appreciated our country's contribution to the diversification of the EU's energy supply and to strengthening European consumers' access to uninterrupted, affordable and clean energy.
The meeting also expressed confidence that the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan would pave the way for broader cooperation within the framework of the EaP. The importance of our country's confidence-building measures in the context of civil society was emphasized.
At the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the modernization of the EaP, new opportunities, as well as other topical issues.
