The Azerbaijan State News Agency

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Italian President Sergio Mattarella held expanded meeting VIDEO

Rome, February 20, AZERTAC 

Following the one-on-one meeting, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella have been joined by their delegations for a meeting in an expanded format.

Welcoming President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Italian President Sergio Mattarella said:

- Mr. President, welcome to Rome. I am very pleased with your visit. I express my gratitude to you for the hospitality you showed me in Baku two years ago. Your current visit is also a great opportunity to once again note the sincere friendship and the strengthening cooperation between Azerbaijan and Italy, as well as to evaluate the policies pursued by you and your government in relation to Italian-Azerbaijani ties, cooperation between our countries in all directions - energy, trade, economic, political and cultural spheres.

Mr. President, you are welcome again! Thank you, Mr. President! We are very pleased with your state visit to Italy.

Х Х Х

President Ilham Aliyev said:

- Thank you, dear Mr. President.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the invitation to visit Italy on a state visit and for the hospitality extended to us. I am very delighted to be visiting your beautiful country again.

I recall with pleasure your historic visit to Azerbaijan. The agreements reached during the visit are already reflected in life, and today Italian-Azerbaijani relations are rising to a new level. The interaction between our companies in practically all areas - political, economic, energy, cultural, transport, communications - is reaching a new level. The numerous documents that will be signed during the visit will further strengthen our ties. Among them, I would like to specifically note the Joint Declaration on Strengthening Strategic Partnership.

There are excellent results in the energy sector. The Southern Gas Corridor, which we are implementing jointly, is in the final stages of completion. Our main desire in the future is that the relations between Italy and Azerbaijan in the non-oil sector develop even faster. Tomorrow's business forum, I am sure, will be a very important step in this direction.

Let me once again express my gratitude for the hospitality and for the invitation. I am sure that the results of the visit will be very positive.

Х Х Х

During the meeting, the sides stressed the importance of the “Joint Declaration on Strengthening Multidimensional Strategic Partnership”. It was noted that this document covers all areas, including political, economic, trade and energy.

The parties also underlined that Italy had always been a friend of Azerbaijan. It was noted that Azerbaijan is located in a very important region and is building very good ties with all countries.

The sides once again emphasized the position of Azerbaijan on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and pointed to the need for resolving this conflict within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan in accordance with the norms and principles of international law and the Helsinki Final Act.

During the meeting, the parties hailed the role of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in developing cultural ties between the two countries. It was noted that Italy declared 2020 as the Year of Azerbaijani Culture.

Share news on social media

Follow us on social network

VIDEO

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Italian President Sergio Mattarella held expanded meeting VIDEO

River Plate signs Thiago Almada from Atletico Madrid

Marco Rubio: United States remains fully committed to working with Armenia and Azerbaijan

President Ilham Aliyev sends a letter to U.S. President on the anniversary of the Washington Summit

To the President of the United States of America His Excellency Mr. Donald J. Trump

Steve Witkoff: The future of South Caucasus countries is bright

Top stories update

Release from the Press Service of the President

Historic Washington Summit: A chronological timeline

Spain to establish border controls on travellers from Italy amid migration dispute

Russia, Pakistan work to launch first rail cargo route — ambassador

Azerbaijan military attachés and representatives convene for annual meeting

Washington Agreements: Peace and strategic partnership change the rules of the game – ANALYSIS

What has the historic Washington meeting changed?

American expert: Azerbaijan is really becoming to play a much larger role across the broader region

Another shipment from Russia dispatched to Armenia via Azerbaijan

President Saratoga Foundation: The trajectory of relations between the U.S. and Azerbaijan over the past year has been remarkable

Release of the Press Service of the President

Space Academy of Azercosmos receives IAF Excellence in “3G+” Diversity Award 2026

Thawing Siberia could undercut 20 percent of methane targets by 2050, study warns

Washington Summit that established historical justice and peace in the South Caucasus

Türkiye says Greece's tourism framework carries no legal consequences for Ankara

Japan orders evacuations as Typhoon Dolphin approaches, cancels 500 flights

Iranian Minister of Sports and Youth visits Baku Aquatic Palace

Turkish president says Mecca Joint Defense Agreement targets no country, open to other friendly nations

“Khojaly Encyclopedia” presented - shedding light on history

Top stories update

Spanish police dismantle major Mediterranean migrant and drugs smuggling network

FAO Food Price Index edges higher in July on stronger crop prices

Bulgaria records EU’s largest increase in government R&D budget allocations per capita since 2015

® Birbank Biznes offers up to 5% discount on micro business loans

® Fitch has once again upgraded ABB Bank’s ratings!

Artificial Intelligence used to design brand new viruses

Low Danube water levels in Bulgaria expose Roman-era bridge

Azerbaijan, Iran approve Action Plan in youth and sports

Azerbaijan’s Milli Majlis, Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference explore cooperation

Admission plan for BEU-INHA DDP filled 100 percent

Beijing deploys 72 robot ‘employees’ across city parks amid high temperatures

® PASHA Holding successfully continues "Fərqindəlik" ("Awareness") project launched in 2025

China adds nearly 20 tons of gold to reserves in July

Azerbaijan Army servicemen participate in Proficiency Level Assessment Examinations

Europe's gas storage falls to lowest August level since 2011

Man Utd confirm Altay Bayindir exit as Celta Vigo loan deal includes permanent transfer clause

Azerbaijan sets up Organizing Committee for International Investment Forum to take place in Baku – ORDER

® Azercell launches an annual subscription for ZengimCELL service

Baku to host international badminton tournament

Meta fined $567m in largest child safety ruling against social media giant

Azerbaijani Economy minister highlights SOCAR Carbamide as important example of successful digital transformation

Azerbaijan’s State Oil Fund invests alongside I Squared Capital in Inkia, Peru's largest independent power producer

John van 't Schip to take helm of Kazakhstan’s national football team

European wildfires cause up to $22B in total damage

Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan to sign trilateral defense agreement

Bad news for rice lovers: Climate change is cutting rice harvests

Top stories update

Azeri Light sells for $93.37

At least 7 dead in Thai school shooting

Oil prices rise on global markets

Protesters march in Buenos Aires against Argentina's private property bill

Azerbaijani FM meets with Ukrainian President

Vinicius Jr and Real Madrid agree new six-year deal

Jeyhun Bayramov informed Ukrainian President on post-conflict realities in the South Caucasus

Top stories update

Munich car-ramming attacker sentenced to life in prison

UK clears Paramount’s stalled $110B Warner Bros. Discovery takeover

Real Madrid sign Diomande from RB Leipzig

Number of Azerbaijani nationals working for bp disclosed

Azerbaijan, US explore global economy trends

Lebanon, Israel begin final day of 7th round of negotiations in Rome

Azerbaijan, FIDE explore enhancing cooperation

Trabzonspor sign Salah on blockbuster 2-year deal

Butterflies are rapidly changing where they live as climate changes

bp spent about $0.9 million on various social and sponsorship projects in Azerbaijan in first half of 2026

BEU graduate awarded prestigious Chevening scholarship

Processing of data acquired during survey for Garabagh field currently underway

24 wells drilled for Shahdeniz 2 project to date, bp says

Trump tells donors, ‘We need to elect JD,’ in 2028 presidential election: Report

Shah Deniz field produces around 14 billion standard cubic meters of gas and 2 million tons of condensate in first half of 2026

AFFA official appointed UEFA delegate for Europa League qualifier

During first half, SCP`s daily average export throughput was 63.7 million cubic metres of gas per day

Turkish media representatives visit Aghdam Industrial Park

® Order your Birbank Star card today and enjoy commission-free cash withdrawals                    

bp: Further evaluation of the Shafag-Asiman block is required

BTC pipeline transported more than in 4.7 billion barrels of oil to world markets since its commissioning

Azerbaijan's digital governance model receives two international awards in UK

Sangachal terminal exported around 97 million barrels of oil and condensate in six months

Construction activities for Shafag project expected to continue through mid-2027.

Three Tottenham exits close as Atletico Madrid into pole position to sign Romero after hijack

Azerbaijan received 2 billion cubic meters of associated gas from ACG in first half of year

Most-detailed-ever image of sun reveals roiling waves for first time

ACG completed drilling of seven oil producer and two gas injector wells in first six months

Installation of Trans-Caspian fiber-optic cable on seabed of Caspian Sea completed

FM Bayramov: We also would be happy to provide gas also to friendly Ukraine, in case of necessity

Hormuz disruption pushes LNG shipping costs to highest levels since 2022: Report

First 2026 issue of English-language IRS-Heritage magazine published

Microbiome-based therapy may increase peanut allergy tolerance in adults

Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli produced 59 million barrels during first half of 2026

Pakistan prioritizes stronger relations with Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan — envoy

Azerbaijani Foreign Minister visits Ukrainian city of Irpin

Ukrainian FM: We are deeply saddened by the death of Azerbaijani citizens in the Black Sea

Andrii Sybiha: From an energy security perspective, Azerbaijan holds strategic importance for the entire European continent

Verdict announced in appellate court on appeals of Armenian citizens