Shusha, July 14, AZERTAC

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of the Slovak Republic Peter Pellegrini delivered press statements in Shusha on July 14.

The President of Azerbaijan made the statement first.

Statement by President Ilham Aliyev

- Dear Mr. President,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Mr. President, first of all, I would like to once again welcome you to Azerbaijan and to Garabagh.

I am pleased that Azerbaijan–Slovakia relations are developing successfully. Our political contacts have become regular. I fondly recall my official visit to Slovakia at the end of last year, and I would like to once again express my gratitude for the warm hospitality extended to me.

The dynamic development of our relations reflects the shared commitment of both sides. Today, we discussed a broad range of issues and once again noted the extensive nature of our bilateral agenda. One need only look at the composition of our delegations to appreciate the wide range of areas in which we are engaged in active cooperation. Our interaction has gone well beyond dialogue—it has evolved into practical, results-oriented cooperation.

Today, political relations between Azerbaijan and Slovakia are at a very high level, as clearly demonstrated by the regular exchange of high-level visits. In 2024, we signed the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, and its implementation is already producing tangible results. Such active political engagement and the successful implementation of joint projects are, of course, possible only with strong political will.

We are particularly pleased that Slovakia is actively contributing to the reconstruction of Garabagh. Later today, Mr. President and I will visit the village of Bash Garvand in the Aghdam district, where a Slovak company is implementing a Smart Village project. We will familiarize ourselves with the progress of its implementation. I would like to once again express my gratitude to you for this support and for Slovakia's valuable contribution to the reconstruction of Garabagh.

Among the issues we discussed, the traditional areas of cooperation naturally featured prominently. Trade and economic relations, cooperation in the energy and military-technical fields, and other areas remain among our key priorities. We held sincere and open discussions on all of these matters. Our delegations continue to work in close contact today and will carry on their discussions tomorrow.

The President's visit will continue in Baku tomorrow. I would like to once again express my gratitude to Mr. President for accepting my invitation and, in particular, for visiting Garabagh. This once again reflects the sincerity and warmth of the relations between our two countries.

I am confident that our relations will continue to develop successfully in the years ahead, because they are built on concrete actions rather than words. Both sides attach great importance to our bilateral cooperation, and I can confidently say that, in recent years, we have established a strong partnership.

I should also note that this is not President Pellegrini's first visit to Azerbaijan. In his previous capacities, both as Speaker of Parliament and as Prime Minister, he was among the first high-ranking Slovak officials to visit our country. As President, he also participated in our international climate conference, and today he is paying an official visit to Azerbaijan.

Once again, Mr. President, I warmly welcome you and wish you a most pleasant and successful visit.

x x x

Then, the President of Slovakia made the statement.

Statement by President Peter Pellegrini

- Dear Mr. President,

Allow me, on behalf of the entire delegation, to express our sincere gratitude for your initiative in hosting my official visit to Azerbaijan here in Garabagh, in the city of Shusha, as well as for the warm welcome extended to us.

During our previous meetings, we spoke at length about Garabagh and its future development. That is why it is a great honor for me to be here today with my colleagues from the delegation and to witness firsthand the remarkable progress that has been made in the development of this region.

I would like to acknowledge, with great respect and admiration, the remarkable achievements accomplished in this region in the short period since its liberation. At the same time, I am particularly pleased that Slovak companies are contributing to the reconstruction of Garabagh. I am confident that they will continue to make a meaningful contribution to many other important projects to be implemented here in the future.

Mr. President, to echo your remarks, I would like to emphasize that the strategic partnership between Slovakia and Azerbaijan is far more than a formal declaration. The relations between our countries extend well beyond traditional diplomatic ties. We are truly friendly nations. We are friends who stand by one another and translate our excellent relations into concrete projects and practical cooperation.

I am also pleased that my delegation includes senior members of the Government of the Slovak Republic. Today and tomorrow, they will meet with their Azerbaijani counterparts to discuss the specific areas of cooperation that you, Mr. President, have outlined. I am equally pleased that, alongside the ministers, the governors of our central banks are also present. They, too, have many important matters to discuss.

Mr. President, I would like to express my profound gratitude to you for your sincerity and for the open, frank, and cordial dialogue we have always enjoyed, because this is precisely how the leaders of two friendly nations should engage with one another. Slovakia pursues a pragmatic foreign policy and seeks partners and friends around the world. I am very pleased that Azerbaijan is among them.

Azerbaijan is an important regional player, a guarantor of stability and development, and a key logistics and transport hub connecting East and West. In this regard, Azerbaijan plays an indispensable role.

Mr. President, I would also like to thank you and Azerbaijan for your prompt response during the energy crisis. At that time, you expressed your readiness to supply natural gas to our country. This made a significant contribution to addressing the shortfall caused by the suspension of gas transit through Ukraine. I am pleased that our ministers will continue their discussions with a view to finding a stable, long-term solution for energy supplies from 2027 onward.

Mr. President, I am very pleased that later today we will visit a newly built village. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude that the school and its surrounding grounds, which will serve the children of this village, will bear the name of the distinguished Slovak statesman and General, Milan Rastislav Štefánik.

In this way, Slovakia's legacy will endure here in Garabagh for many years to come, and the children, parents, and teachers associated with the school will always feel a connection with Slovakia. We are pleased that relations between Slovakia and Azerbaijan extend beyond the spheres of the economy and diplomacy. Citizens of our two countries are traveling more and more, and direct flights will commence in October. Mr. President, I am particularly pleased that, following your visit to Bratislava, we announced this initiative. Today, in 2026, it has become a reality. I am confident that it will bring our two countries even closer together and further facilitate cooperation in education, people-to-people contacts, and, of course, business.

I am also pleased that I am accompanied on this visit by a large business delegation. Tomorrow, our Minister of Economy, together with his Azerbaijani counterpart, will open the Azerbaijan–Slovakia Business Forum. This will bring together Slovak and Azerbaijani companies, and I hope it will create new opportunities for cooperation.

This fully reflects the shared vision that you and I have discussed. Our relations should not be based solely on one-sided trade, where one side sells and the other buys. On the contrary, we seek to expand joint projects in as many areas as possible. We want to work together wherever our cooperation can be mutually beneficial, promote joint production where feasible, facilitate technology transfer, and implement projects that serve the interests of both countries alike.

For the Slovak Republic, peace and security are of fundamental importance. Therefore, I would like to commend President Aliyev and Azerbaijan for their efforts to promote diplomatic solutions to regional and international conflicts, including the war between Russia and Ukraine and the difficult situation in the Middle East.

In Slovakia, we firmly believe that, alongside strengthening defense capabilities and providing the necessary support to address current security challenges, European leaders should devote greater efforts to seeking diplomatic solutions at the negotiating table. Only in this way can we remove the scourge of war from our continent as soon as possible and refocus on the peaceful and prosperous development of all our regions.

I would also like to confirm that in 2027 and 2028, Slovakia will continue to serve as NATO's Contact Point Embassy in Azerbaijan through our Embassy in Baku. I am pleased that our defense ministers are maintaining excellent cooperation in the fields of security and defense. I am also glad that Slovakia will have the opportunity to present the first tangible results of our joint cooperation at the major defense exhibition to be held in Baku this September.

Mr. President, I am deeply grateful to you for giving us the opportunity to spend time here in Garabagh and in Baku. Thank you for your friendship and for the cooperation you have extended to us. I am very pleased that, through dialogue and joint action, we continue to demonstrate that relations between Azerbaijan and Slovakia are built not merely on words or formal declarations, but on concrete projects and meaningful cooperation.

I look forward to our future meetings. I was also pleased that, when recalling my previous visits to Azerbaijan, you noted that each time I held a different high public office. Allow me to conclude on a lighter note. It seems that every time I visit Azerbaijan, things go well for me and my political career reaches a new milestone. For that, I thank you.

I wish us many more warm and friendly meetings in the years ahead, as well as continued prosperity and ever-stronger relations between our two countries.

Thank you very much, Mr. President.