BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 25. I remember my visit to Kyiv in January 2022. The exchange of views we had with you (Volodymyr Zelenskyy – ed.) and our subsequent contacts have consistently raised Ukraine-Azerbaijan relations to a high level. Our cooperation has a very strong political foundation, President Ilham Aliyev said during a joint press statement with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trend reports.
Statement by President Ilham Aliyev
- Honorable Mr. President, distinguished guests.
I once again sincerely welcome you to Azerbaijan. Welcome to Azerbaijan.
Our meetings have a regular character. This is our seventh meeting over the last four years. Our recent meetings took place on the sidelines of international organization events. However, I recall that you first visited Azerbaijan as President in 2019. Our personal relationship also began at that time and continues successfully today. I also remember my visit to Kyiv in January 2022. The exchange of views we held and our subsequent contacts have elevated Ukraine–Azerbaijan relations to a higher level.
Our cooperation has a very strong political foundation. In 2008 in Kyiv and in 2011 in Baku, two documents on strategic partnership were signed, and these are very important political documents. These documents reflect mutual respect for our countries’ territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the inviolability of borders. Azerbaijan and Ukraine support—and will continue to support—each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in all international organizations.
Two important events took place last year: consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and a meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission were held in Baku. During our conversation today, we also exchanged views on holding these events in Ukraine in the coming period. In short, we are successfully cooperating in many areas today, and this cooperation was reaffirmed once again.
Among the issues discussed, in addition to political dialogue, I would especially like to mention cooperation in the field of energy. There are both existing achievements—SOCAR has been operating successfully in Ukraine for many years—and, at the same time, excellent prospects and joint projects. Joint initiatives, including investment-related matters, were discussed in detail today. Naturally, the issue of further increasing trade turnover is also at the center of the agenda. Our trade turnover has exceeded half a billion dollars; however, I hope this figure will grow further in the coming years, as there are strong opportunities for that.
An exchange of views was also held regarding military-technical cooperation, and there are significant prospects in this area as well. The military-industrial complex is developing in both Azerbaijan and Ukraine, and there are excellent opportunities for joint production, as well as for joint production in the industrial sector as a whole. This was also discussed in detail today, and we aim to further deepen our cooperation in all other fields.
As I mentioned, the holding of seven meetings at the presidential level over the past four years—the last meeting being two months ago in Munich—is a clear indicator. This speaks to how dynamic our relations are. Today, we speak of mutual respect and the safeguarding of mutual interests. I am confident that today’s visit will make another important contribution to the development of Azerbaijan–Ukraine friendly relations.
Once again, I sincerely welcome you and all our Ukrainian guests.
