On 8 March, in scope of his official visit to Azerbaijan, President of Latvia Egils Levits met with H. E. Mr Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan. Meeting in Baku focused on bilateral relations, European Union (EU) – Azerbaijan dialogue, European security and energy supply alternatives.
Latvia and Azerbaijan have built stable bilateral ties and Latvia is keen to continue political dialogue on all levels, said President Levits after the meeting. Local governments in both countries have already signed 14 different cooperation agreements, while Latvia and Azerbaijan will mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations next year.
According to President Levits, economic relations between Latvia and Azerbaijan have been on the rise in recent years. ‘We are ready to discuss deeper cooperation in areas such as information and communications technologies, smart energy and green technologies. Transport and logistics is another sector. Our national carrier, airBaltic, will also resume flights between Riga and Baku this May,’ Egils Levits pointed out.
President also spoke about significance of EU-Azerbaijan dialogue. ‘Latvia welcomes EU-Azerbaijan strategic energy partnership memorandum. Azerbaijan is key for EU’s efforts to diversify natural gas suppliers and routes, thereby strengthening Europe’s energy independence. We would like to expand this cooperation to renewables,’ President Levits stressed.
Latvia is one of those NATO member states that support ever closer cooperation between the Alliance and Azerbaijan in scope of the Partnership for Peace initiative, President of Latvia underlined. Egils Levits confirmed that it is committed to keep Latvian embassy in Baku as the Allied contact point embassy until 2024.
Heads of both states discussed situation in Ukraine and support provided to Ukraine due to the war waged by Russia. ‘Latvia appreciates Azerbaijan’s humanitarian aid, energy and political support to Ukraine, as well as delivery of power generators to Ukraine more recently. Latvia has also offered the country all available support, spending beyond 1% of its GDP. Lasting peace in Ukraine may only be achieved if international law and territorial integrity are respected,’ Egils Levits said.
Latvia-Azerbaijan cooperation in international organisations was another topic of the meeting. President Levits underlined the immense importance of Latvia-Azerbaijan cooperation within the United Nations. As the country coordinating the Non-Aligned Movement in its own region and globally in all of its 120 states, Azerbaijan is in charge of important cooperation platform, said Egils Levits to Ilham Aliyev. ‘Latvia is ready to contribute to stronger international organisations and rules-based international order – a goal that could be pursued more successfully together with Azerbaijan, and in the build-up to Latvia’s candidature to the UN Security Council in 2025,’ Egils Levits said.
President of Latvia also addressed dialogue within Council of Europe and mentioned Latvia’s forthcoming chairmanship from May until November of 2023. Egils Levits said that Latvia and member states of Council of Europe will work together on promoting democracy, human rights and rule of law in Europe.
The 10th Baku Global Forum ‘The World of Today: Challenges and Hopes’ is a significant platform that opens new opportunities, bringing together diverse expertise of global leaders and enabling Azerbaijan to promote cross-cultural dialogue, Egils Levits told Ilham Aliyev.
President of Latvia also commented on situation in Karabakh. Latvia’s official position supports stability and prosperity in South Caucasus. Conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan must be solved in a peaceful and sustainable manner, according to international law,’ Egils Levits underlined.
