04 September 2023 20:16

On 4 September 2023, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Péter Szijjártó within the framework of his official visit to Hungary.

The tête-à-tête meeting held between Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister Péter Szijjártó later continued in an expanded format with the participation of the delegations of both sides, and the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Hungary Strategic Dialogue was held.

During the meeting, an exchange of views was conducted on issues of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Hungary in bilateral and multilateral formats, as well as regional issues. The importance and role of mutual visits at the highest and high levels and political dialogue in the development of our relations were noted.

Opportunities to further expand relevant cooperation with Hungary in the fields of economy, trade, pharmaceuticals, culture, education, sports and other areas were discussed. It was particularly emphasized that partnership in the field of energy plays a key role in our relations, and it was emphasized that areas such as transport and logistics would provide an additional contribution to our cooperation.

At the meeting, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov provided the other side with detailed information on the current regional situation and realities in the post-conflict period, the efforts made by Azerbaijan towards the normalization of relations with Armenia, the signing of a peace treaty, the opening of transport and communications in the region, as well as the delimitation of borders.

It was stated that Armenia demonstrates a continuously non-constructive approach, commits military-political provocations, evades its obligations, and that, until the establishment of the Lachin border control checkpoint, the Lachin road was abused for military purposes and for the continuation of the mine threat. It was emphasized that Armenia has still not fully withdrawn its occupying forces from the territories of our country.

The other side was informed about the peace agenda initiated by the Azerbaijani side, the constructive approach of our country within this framework and its relevant efforts, as opposed to Armenia’s contradictory and provocative position.

In particular, Armenia’s obstruction by all means of efforts for the reintegration of Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, and its dissemination of false allegations around the Lachin-Khankendi road, were noted. It was recalled that Armenian residents pass through the Lachin road on a daily basis, while the use of the Aghdam-Khankendi road for the transportation of large-volume cargo to the territory has been proposed by Azerbaijan.

During the meeting, an exchange of views was also conducted on the large-scale reconstruction works carried out by Azerbaijan in its liberated territories, and gratitude was expressed to the other side for Hungary’s interest in this process.

Thereafter, the two Ministers signed the Protocol of the 1st meeting of the Azerbaijan-Hungary Strategic Dialogue.

At the press briefing, the Ministers made statements on the outcomes of the meeting and answered journalists’ questions.