Baku, August 25, AZERTAC

Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov has received a delegation led by Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and Foreign Trade and the Federal Cultural Institutions of the Kingdom of Belgium Hadja Lahbib.

The ministers first held the one-on-one meeting, followed by the meeting in an expanded format with the participation of the two countries’ delegations.

The meeting saw discussions on issues of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats between Azerbaijan and Belgium as well as regional issues. The Azerbaijani FM noted that there are opportunities for further expanding the cooperation with Belgium in the fields of economy, culture, trade, alternative energy, high technologies, medicine and pharmaceuticals in light of new realities emerged in the region.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov drew his counterpart’s attention to Armenia’s policy of ethnic cleansing, which has resulted in the occupation of Azerbaijani territories as well as destruction of 9 cities and over 300 villages for almost 30 years.

FM Bayramov informed Hadja Lahbib about Azerbaijan’s efforts towards normalization process with Armenia, the signing the peace agreement, the process of opening of regional transport and communication lines as well as the delimitation of borders. He also highlighted Armenia’s ongoing non-constructive approach, military-political provocations, and Armenia’s failure to fulfill its obligations, its abuse of the Lachin road, contrary to provisions of the trilateral statement, to continue military and mine threats.

The Azerbaijani FM also mentioned Armenia’s biased claims regarding the Lachin road, which hinder Azerbaijani efforts towards reintegration of the Armenian residents living in Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Bayramov said that a daily passage of Armenian residents was ensured through the Lachin road, adding that Azerbaijan also proposed to ensure the transportation of the large-volume cargo to the area through Aghdam-Khankendi road.

FM Jeyhun Bayramov noted that certain countries had turned a blind eye to the decades-long policy of occupation against Azerbaijan, describing the smear campaign against Azerbaijan in the post-conflict period as nothing but a political manipulation. He also stressed the importance of preventing Armenian abuse of international initiatives such as the EU mission implemented in the region.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that Azerbaijan has always been committed to maintaining progress, prosperity and co-existence within the country’s territorial integrity, noting that the country will continue its efforts in this regard.

The ministers then made press statements on the outcomes of the meeting and responded to questions from journalists.