10 October 2023 17:18

On 10 October 2023, within the framework of the chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs was held in the city of Shusha.

The meeting began its work with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov reading out the address of President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Ilham Aliyev to the participants of the meeting.

The address of the head of state reflected the prospects for cooperation that emerged in the region in the post-conflict period. The address also stated that, at the initiative of our country, the annual theme of the ECO was defined as “Green Transition and Connectivity,” and that Azerbaijan has taken consistent steps in this direction at the national, including international, levels. In this framework, it was emphasized that the creation of a green energy zone in the liberated territories is a manifestation of the work carried out in the aforementioned directions.

In his opening speech as Chair of the ECO, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov expressed his gratitude for the support and active participation shown to the initiatives put forward by our side during our chairmanship based on the theme “Green Transition and Connectivity.” He expressed confidence that priorities such as the development of regional connectivity, economic transformation and green energy, which are also reflected in the “ECO Vision 2025” document, will continue to be advanced.

Later, speaking in his national capacity, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted with satisfaction the initiatives implemented during our chairmanship of the ECO towards strengthening the Organization’s cooperation with other regional and international platforms. It was stated that we are interested in further strengthening cooperation in various fields, and in this regard, our hosting of two specialized bodies of the Organization — the ECO Energy Center and the ECO Research Center — is an indicator of our contribution to cooperation in the relevant areas.

Providing the participants with information about the current situation in the region and the realities of the post-conflict period, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that our country has always made efforts to draw international attention to the presence in the region of illegal Armenian armed forces that posed a threat to regional peace and security. Speaking about the local anti-terror measures that ended the provocations, continued mine threat and presence of illegal Armenian armed forces threatening peace and reintegration processes in the region, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that as a result of these measures, the reintegration process of Armenian residents living in the Garabagh region in particular has intensified. It was emphasized that the establishment of a working group to meet the economic, social and humanitarian needs of local Armenian residents, the implementation of relevant measures, and the continuation of dialogue between the representative of the Government of Azerbaijan and representatives of those residents once again prove that allegations about the alleged conduct of “ethnic cleansing” in the region are groundless. In this regard, it was stated that Azerbaijan is determined not to miss the historic opportunity that has emerged for peace and reintegration in the region, and to advance the normalization agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the reintegration process of Armenian residents living in our territories.

The meeting then continued with statements by representatives of member and observer countries, international partners and specialized bodies of the ECO, initiatives and proposals regarding the future development of regional cooperation within the framework of the ECO, as well as discussions on other issues on the agenda of the meeting.

During the meeting, the Shusha Declaration on Green Transition and Connectivity in the ECO Region was also adopted, which also reflected information on the work carried out towards opening transport and communications between the East Zangezur economic region of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, particularly the Protocol of Intent dated 6 October 2023 between Azerbaijan and Iran, envisaging the construction of a new railway in this direction, and the groundbreaking ceremony held.

At the end, a statement on the outcomes of the meeting, defining the next steps of future regional cooperation, was adopted, and the Charter of the ECO Clean Energy Center, which was decided to be established in Azerbaijan, was signed by Türkiye.

Afterwards, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and ECO Secretary General Khusrav Noziri delivered statements to the press on the outcomes of the meeting.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted the symbolic significance of holding the 27th meeting of the Council of Ministers, the most important event of our chairmanship of the ECO, in Shusha, the historical city of Azerbaijan and the Tourism Capital of the ECO. Confidence was expressed that the Shusha Declaration adopted within the framework of the meeting will contribute to the development of cooperation within the framework of the ECO.