A security dialogue between Azerbaijan and the EU has been held in Baku, press service of Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said.
Led by Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service Jean-Christophe Belliard, the European delegation met with Azerbaijani Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov.
The EU Delegation then met with Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Hikmat Hajiyev and other officials.
A decision on the establishment of a bilateral dialogue mechanism on security and transport issues was made at the15th meeting of the EU-Azerbaijan Cooperation Council on February 15 this year.
The dialogue featured discussions on the issues on regional and international agenda, including the cooperation opportunities in the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as transnational organized crime, smuggling, and cybersecurity and other security threats.
The successful energy cooperation between the EU and Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan’s contribution to the energy security of Europe was also hailed at the event.
The sides reiterated their commitment to supporting each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of international borders. It was noted that the new partnership agreement, currently being negotiated, between the EU and Azerbaijan will create favorable opportunities for comprehensive development of the EU-Azerbaijan cooperation.
The EU delegation was updated on the current state of the negotiation process on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It was emphasized that only the liberation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories and return of the forcefully expelled people to their homelands can lead to lasting peace and sustainable development in the region.
The sides described the first EU-Azerbaijan dialogue as a new chapter in bilateral relations, and agreed to continue it next year.