No:419/22, Information of the Press Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan on participation of Minister Jeyhun Bayramov in the 39th meeting of the Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM
On September 20, 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov participated in the 39th meeting of the Council of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM on the sidelines of the high level week of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
The meeting of the council was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia Ilia Darchiashvili, Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova Nicu Popescu and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.
Speaking during the meeting, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov shared his views on the activities and prospects in the areas of trade, transport and communications, as well as inter-parliamentary cooperation within GUAM, and emphasized the importance of cooperation within the framework of the organization.
Minister spoke about the efforts to mitigate the consequences of the former conflict with Armenia in the post-conflict period. Minister also informed the participants about the restoration and reconstruction measures in the region, the return of the internally displaced persons to their homes, projects aimed towards the integration of the of ethnic Armenians living in the region, as well as the present danger of landmines in the area.
It was emphasized that work was being done to open communications and transport lines, as well as a peace agreement proposal was put forward by Azerbaijan within the framework of the tripartite statements and the agreements reached between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia. It was noted that despite all this, Armenia obstructed the process and resorted to delaying tactics, seriously violated its obligations under the Tripartite statements, and, in recent months, caused a large-scale military provocation which resulted in the loss of life. It was also emphasized that despite the destructive activity of Armenia, Azerbaijan is determined to advance the peace agenda and continues negotiations.
Minister also noted that the situation in Ukraine is of serious concern, and that it is important to solve the issue through diplomacy and on the basis of international law, especially in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders of states. Facts that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to extend humanitarian aid to Ukraine and that 15 million euro worth of aid was provided so far were also stated. Concluding his speech, Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, congratulated Ukraine on taking over the GUAM chairmanship for 2023.
During the meeting other attending Foreign Ministers and Secretary General Altay Efendiyev also spoke and informed the participants about positions and priorities within the framework of the organization.
During the meeting, member states signed the "Protocol on the rules for determining the country of origin of goods to the Agreement on the establishment of a free trade zone" and the "Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM Convention on mutual assistance in the field of consular issues".