Baku, Belgrade mutually support each other’s territorial integrity

Azerbaijan and Serbia have expressed support for each other’s territorial integrity during the meeting held between President Ilham Aliyev and a delegation led by Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Selakovic on 25 July in Baku.

During the meeting, Ilham Aliyev pointed to the fact that the companies from friendly countries are involved in restoration and reconstruction work in the liberated territories. In this regard, the possibility of Serbian companies’ participation in these works in the coming years was underlined.

High on the agenda of the meeting was economic cooperation.

The sides hailed the successful development of strategic partnership relations between the two countries, and stressed the importance of the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Serbia to be held in Baku in terms of expanding cooperation.

It should be noted that Azerbaijan’s trade turnover with Serbia tripled in 2021. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $4.2 million during the first four months of the year. In addition, total turnover between Azerbaijan and Serbia in 2020 amounted to $9 million.

The two countries signed the Declaration on Strategic Partnership in 2013 and the Joint Strategic Partnership Action Plan in 2018.

During his two-day visit to Azerbaijan, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic was also received by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on July 26.

The two sides discussed the work of the Serbia-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Economic Commission, Bayramov said that the Intergovernmental Commission’s session would be held on July 27 followed by a Business Forum.

During the presser following the meeting, Selakovic thanked Azerbaijan for humanitarian assistance to Serbia during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Serbia will never forget the support of Azerbaijan, rendered to it in difficult days. This is a clear example of sincere friendship," Selakovic said.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has ruled out status for Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region.

In a statement published on July 24, Abdullayeva said that those who want to artificially raise the issue of "status of Nagorno-Karabakh" must understand once and for all that there is no "status" issue, just as there is no "Nagorno-Karabakh”.

She reminded that the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast was legally abolished by Azerbaijan in November 1991 and East Zangazur and Karabakh economic regions were established by the presidential order on July 7, 2021. She added that Karabakh has been an integral part of Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians can live there as Azerbaijani citizens.

Commenting on Zangazur region, Abdullayeva told that like other parts of modern Armenia, Zangazur has been a historical Azerbaijani soil, from where ethnic Azerbaijanis have been expelled.

Abdullayeva stressed that Azerbaijan has reached its borders and is strengthening there. However, Armenia as an aggressor has been disrespecting international law for decades and now does not want to face the postwar realities.

Responding to Armenia’s accusation about "worsening the humanitarian situation" by Azerbaijan, Abdullayeva said that all necessary conditions have been created for the transportation of humanitarian aid through the territory of Azerbaijan. In turn, Armenia obstructs the visit of a mission to the region, which has been agreed with international humanitarian organizations.

In the end, the Azerbaijani spokesperson reminded that the use of illegal force was an obstacle to peace and security in the region, which has been implemented by Armenia for decades. She added that Azerbaijan has liberated its territories in line with the UN Charter and in compliance with international humanitarian law, ensured its territorial integrity and is currently working to ensure peace and progress in the region.