BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 1. Azerbaijan’s
Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev met with a delegation of
the Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the Council
of the European Union (COEST), which is visiting Azerbaijan, the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said.
The meeting focused on the current state and prospects for
developing relations between Azerbaijan and the EU, partnership
priorities, negotiations on a new bilateral agreement, cooperation
in the energy and transport sectors, climate issues, as well as the
regional agenda.
The Deputy Foreign Minister noted the intensification of
high-level contacts between Azerbaijan and the EU, as well as the
expansion of cooperation in the fields of energy, trade and
transport connectivity. The sides emphasized the growing importance
of the Middle Corridor. The delegation was briefed on Azerbaijan’s
efforts to develop transport and logistics infrastructure, the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the Port of Baku, and projects being
implemented in the territories liberated from occupation.
In the context of energy cooperation, Azerbaijan’s role in
ensuring Europe’s energy security was highlighted. The sides also
discussed prospects for increasing natural gas supplies and ongoing
renewable energy projects.
During an exchange of views on the process of normalizing
relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, information was provided
on the progress achieved following the Washington summit,
Azerbaijan’s peace agenda, and steps being taken to build
confidence.
At the end of the meeting, questions of interest to the
delegation’s representatives were answered.
