Towards A New Chapter In The Relationship Between Azerbaijan And The European Union – OpEd
On April 25th, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, paid a visit to Baku. During her diplomatic engagement, Ms. Kallas conducted bilateral meetings with the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and subsequently engaged in discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan.
The deliberations encompassed the extant state of relations between the two entities, alongside an exploration of prospective avenues for enhanced cooperation across the political, economic, energy, transportation, and other pertinent domains. Following these engagements, at a joint press conference convened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, both parties characterized the discussions as productive, expressing a shared conviction regarding the potential for a more profound and intensified partnership between the European Union and Azerbaijan in the ensuing period.
The visit marks a potential turning point in the bilateral relationship, demonstrably indicating the European Union’s recognition of Azerbaijan’s strategic importance and a discernible willingness to revitalize relations that had experienced a period of strain. The preceding stagnation in this relationship originated from several factors, encompassing resolutions adopted by the European Parliament, statements issued by former High Representative concerning Azerbaijan, the allocation of military aid to Armenia under the auspices of the European Peace Facility, and the relocation of the European Monitoring Mission along the Armenian border. With specific regard to the latter issue, it is pertinent to note that the mutually agreed-upon text of the peace treaty includes a provision stipulating the non-deployment of third-party military forces along the provisional border.
During the press conference held at the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan High Representative Kaja Kallas © Eurasia Review
