Engagements Galore

Attending the 60th Munich Security Conference on February 16, Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, met with Lorenzo Mariani, the Co-General Manager of Leonardo S.p.A of Italy. Lorenzo Mariani congratulated President Aliyev on his election victory and commended the successful collaboration between Leonardo S.p.A and Azerbaijan. In response, President Aliyev thanked Mariani and highlighted the excellent relations between Azerbaijan and Italy, emphasizing the strategic partnership between the two countries. Discussions included cooperation in cybersecurity, space, and the collaboration between SOCAR and Leonardo S.p.A.

On the same day, President Ilham Aliyev met with Michael Harms, the Managing Director of the German Eastern Business Association, in Munich, where Harms expressed German businessmen’s interest in expanding economic relations with Azerbaijan. Harms briefed President Aliyev on the upcoming visit of representatives from companies to Azerbaijan, particularly in transportation, logistics, industry, and renewable energy sectors. They also discussed Azerbaijan hosting COP29 and its potential for enhancing economic projects.

Also, President Aliyev met with Marc Thomas Murtra, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indra company, discussing their successful partnership and exploring new projects. Additionally, President Aliyev met with Eileen O’Connor, the Senior Vice President for Strategic Communications, Policy, and Advocacy at the Rockefeller Foundation, who congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting COP29 and expressed readiness for cooperation in climate change mitigation.

Further, President Aliyev met with Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, who conveyed warm wishes from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and discussed COP29 cooperation. They emphasized the UAE's support to Azerbaijan within the COP framework and explored collaboration in renewable energy and other sectors. The meeting highlighted the successful operations of Masdar Company in Azerbaijan and investments in the non-oil sector.

Meetings with OSCE

On February 16, Ilham Aliyev met with Ian Borg, the OSCE Chair-in-Office, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Malta. During the meeting, President Aliyev emphasized the importance of officially discontinuing various inactive mechanisms within the OSCE framework, such as the OSCE Minsk Group and the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. He highlighted the resolved Karabakh conflict and emphasized the bilateral nature of the normalization process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Aliyev expressed readiness to collaborate with Malta and utilize the OSCE platform for regional peace efforts.

On February 18, President Aliyev met with Helga Maria Schmid, the Secretary General of the OSCE and Deputy President of the Foundation Council, Munich Security Conference. The Secretary-General congratulated President Aliyev on his election victory and Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29. The parties discussed cooperation between Azerbaijan and the OSCE on climate change. They also shared views on regional issues and agreements reached for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, including delimitation of borders and negotiations for a peace treaty. President Aliyev emphasized abolishing inactive structures within the OSCE framework and reallocating resources towards more purposeful objectives. He highlighted the positive steps taken in assigning the presidency of COP29 to Azerbaijan and emphasized the importance of continuing this dynamic for regional peace and cooperation.

Meetings with world leaders

On February 16, Aliyev met with Isaac Herzog, the President of the State of Israel. President Herzog congratulated President Aliyev on his victory in the presidential election. They discussed cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel, emphasizing the role of the intergovernmental commission and highlighting economic, trade, cultural, and humanitarian ties, with the opening of the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Israel fostering bilateral development.

President Aliyev also met with Hakan Fidan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. They reaffirmed the friendly and brotherly relations between Türkiye and Azerbaijan across all fields, expressing confidence in further expanding cooperation. The meeting focused on Azerbaijan-Armenia relations, peace treaty talks, and regional security.

On February 17, President Aliyev met with Nechirvan Barzani, the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Barzani congratulated President Aliyev on his reelection. They recalled Barzani's visit to Azerbaijan and discussed the implementation of issues discussed during the visit. They also highlighted relations between the central government of Iraq and Azerbaijan and stressed the importance of direct flights between various cities of Iraq and Azerbaijan. Discussions also included the development of economic, commercial, cultural, and humanitarian relations between the Kurdistan Region and Azerbaijan.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani president met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Munich. President Zelenskyy congratulated President Aliyev on his reelection. The meeting centered on discussions about bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. President Zelenskyy commended Azerbaijan for its humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Both leaders exchanged views on cooperation between their countries in economic, trade, humanitarian, energy, and other fields.

On February 17, Aliyev met with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Munich. Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of Azerbaijan's leadership role in COP29 and the United States' commitment to supporting efforts for a durable and dignified peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Aliyev thanked Secretary Blinken for the support, highlighting COP29's significance and Azerbaijan's commitment to peace with Armenia. He expressed gratitude for the United States' efforts in this direction. Antony Blinken praised the bilateral relations with Azerbaijan and noted the promising opportunities for strengthening cooperation between the two countries. President Aliyev emphasized Azerbaijan's value of its bilateral agenda with the United States and highlighted the potential for expanding partnership. Secretary Blinken congratulated Azerbaijan on hosting COP29 and assured readiness to collaborate and support Azerbaijan within the framework of COP. President Aliyev stressed COP29's potential for enhancing cooperation between Azerbaijan and the United States. The leaders discussed Azerbaijan's support for normalization and peace with Armenia. President Aliyev highlighted positive steps taken during meetings with the Prime Minister of Armenia, including negotiations for a peace treaty and discussions on border delimitation. President Aliyev emphasized the importance of further enhancing bilateral relations with the United States beyond the ongoing normalization process with Armenia. They also exchanged views on regional connectivity, transportation, the Middle Corridor, and other mutual interests.

On the same day, President Aliyev met with Maroš Šefčovič, the European Commission Executive Vice-President for European Green Deal, Interinstitutional Relations, and Foresight. Maroš Šefčovič praised the robust cooperation between Azerbaijan and the European Union in the energy sector, highlighting Azerbaijan's pivotal role as a pan-European energy supplier. He expressed his intention to visit Azerbaijan soon and emphasized that COP29 presents significant opportunities for collaboration between Azerbaijan and the European Union, particularly in renewable energy and climate change mitigation. Šefčovič highlighted that climate finance would be a key topic at the upcoming COP29 session in Azerbaijan, emphasizing the European Union's readiness to support Azerbaijan as an active participant in climate change initiatives. President Ilham Aliyev reiterated Azerbaijan's commitment to fostering solidarity between the Global North and the Global South at COP29. He emphasized that Azerbaijan's engagement within the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other member organizations, along with its partnerships with the European Union and other stakeholders, can contribute to achieving such solidarity. The President also highlighted the formation of a "Troika" within the COP framework, comprising the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, underscoring their collaborative efforts in addressing climate change challenges.

Tête-à-tête and mediator meetings with Nikol Pashinyan

On February 17, Ilham Aliyev met with Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. They discussed bilateral relations, with the German side expressing readiness to support the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan and to organize relevant meetings in Germany. Scholz highlighted the favorable opportunities created by the compromises reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan regarding COP29, which Azerbaijan is hosting.

Subsequently, President Aliyev, Chancellor Scholz, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan held a joint meeting. Chancellor Scholz underscored Germany's support for the peace agenda between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the mission that President of the European Council Charles Michel led.

After the joint meeting, President Aliyev held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Pashinyan in Munich. They discussed negotiations on a peace treaty, normalization of relations, and border delimitation, tasking their Ministries of Foreign Affairs with organizing prompt meetings on the peace agreement and border delimitation commission. Both sides welcomed mutual compromises regarding COP29 and the progress achieved between the two countries.