No:166/24, Press release on the participation and speech of Minister Jeyhun Bayramov at the second ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Central Asian countries
15 April 2024 12:07
On 15 April 2024, within the framework of his working visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, participated as a guest of honor and delivered a speech at the second ministerial meeting of the Strategic Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Central Asian countries.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov noted that the shared historical and cultural heritage between Azerbaijan and the brotherly Central Asian and GCC countries plays an important role in further expanding cooperation across various fields, including political, economic, trade, investment, energy security, and transport.
In the context of addressing existing challenges during the current period of global transformation, the importance of the GCC–Central Asia Strategic Dialogue format within the framework of regional cooperation was emphasized.
Providing information on the preparations for the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which will be hosted by Azerbaijan this year, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov stated that, as during Azerbaijan’s chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, expanding cooperation between the “Global North” and the “Global South” remains one of the country’s key priorities. It was noted that COP29 could serve as an opportunity to enhance cooperation between Central Asia, which has significant renewable energy potential, and GCC countries, which possess advanced technological capabilities.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also provided detailed information on the current situation in the region in the post-conflict period, large-scale reconstruction and rebuilding works carried out in the liberated territories, the mine threat, and the progress of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, emphasizing the importance of reciprocal engagement by Armenia in Azerbaijan’s efforts toward peace and reconstruction in the region.
Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also expressed gratitude to all partners who supported Azerbaijan’s position during the nearly 30-year occupation by Armenia, as well as those contributing to reconstruction efforts and mine clearance activities in the post-conflict period.
The Minister further noted that Azerbaijan is closely monitoring developments in the Middle East and expressed serious concern over the risk of further expansion of the geography of tensions. The importance of respect for international law, as well as the sovereignty and territorial integrity of regional states, was emphasized.
At the conclusion of the event, a joint statement of the members of the Strategic Dialogue was adopted.
