05 September 2023 22:59

On 5 September 2023, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov participated and delivered a speech at the roundtable discussions on “Security challenges in the South Caucasus and prospects for cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia,” organized by the Institute for Development and International Relations (IRMO) of Croatia within the framework of his official visit to the Republic of Croatia.

At the roundtable discussions held with the participation of representatives of academic circles and think tanks operating in Croatia, issues of existing bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Croatia, as well as the current situation in the region, were discussed.

Speaking at the discussions, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that mutual contacts, high-level visits and the political consultations mechanism play an exceptional role in the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia, which are of a strategic partnership nature. Speaking about the existence of a mutually beneficial cooperation agenda between the two countries on a bilateral, including multilateral, basis, the Minister stated that the demonstration of mutual support and solidarity, particularly within the framework of international organizations, is commendable.

The importance of using the existing potential for the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Croatia in various fields, particularly economic, energy security, alternative energy, investments, transport, logistics, pharmaceuticals, tourism and other fields, was noted.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also informed the event participants in detail about the current situation in the region after the 44-day Patriotic War, the restoration and reconstruction works carried out in the liberated territories, as well as the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

As challenges standing in the way of advancing the peace agenda, Armenia’s position and provocations that delay the process, its steps against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country, including its failure to fully withdraw Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan, interference in the activities for the reintegration of Armenian residents settled in the Garabagh region into our society, and provocations involving the continuation of the mine threat were emphasized.

The Minister emphasized that the fake propaganda created by the Armenian side around the Lachin road has no basis, that Azerbaijan has created conditions for the roads passing through its territory to be used in parallel for the transportation of cargo to the Garabagh region of Azerbaijan, where Armenian residents live, and that, nevertheless, Armenia and representatives of the so-called regime it created on our territory obstruct the process. He stated that allegations regarding a “blockade” and a “difficult humanitarian situation” in the region are nothing other than political manipulation. Within this framework, he recalled Armenia’s cases of abuse of the Lachin road during the two and a half years after the war.

It was stated that, in order not to lose the historic opportunity created for the establishment of peace in the region after nearly 30 years of conflict, it is more important than ever for the international community to correctly assess the situation in the region, as well as to formulate an adequate position against Armenia’s provocations.

Thereafter, the discussions continued with a question-and-answer session