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Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan Strengthen Trilateral Cooperation at 2nd Ministers’ Meeting in Ankara

Baku, January 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: During his working visit to Türkiye, Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, attended and addressed the 2nd trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy/Trade, and Transport of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. Alongside him were Mikayil Jabbarov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Economy, and Rashad Nabiyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Digital Development and Transport. The meeting served as a key platform for discussing a range of critical issues between the three nations.

The ministers focused on foreign policy and regional cooperation, exploring opportunities to enhance trade, economic, and investment relations. Special attention was given to the development of regional transportation networks and communication infrastructure, aimed at furthering cooperation in the transport sector.

In his remarks, Minister Bayramov underscored the significance of strengthening trilateral cooperation among Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan, emphasizing that the collaboration stands as a vital example in today’s fragmented international relations system. He stressed the need to complement other regional cooperation frameworks, maximizing the potential of collective action to address common challenges.

Bayramov highlighted the importance of strategically significant projects connecting the Caspian Sea, Black Sea, and Mediterranean Sea regions, where the three countries are located. He also pointed to initiatives such as the “Digital Silk Road” and “green energy export,” which further elevate the value of the trilateral alliance.

The Azerbaijani foreign minister also reflected on the importance of continued mutual support among the three nations within key regional and international organizations, including the United Nations (UN), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation, and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA).

Minister Bayramov expressed gratitude to Türkiye and Uzbekistan for their support of Azerbaijan’s initiatives, particularly during its hosting of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He noted that Azerbaijan’s CICA chairmanship priorities, including connectivity, sustainable development, transport, and education, align closely with the trilateral cooperation agenda.

In the context of regional developments, Bayramov provided an update on the Azerbaijani-Armenian normalization process and the rebuilding of transport infrastructure in Azerbaijani territories that had been isolated for nearly 30 years due to previous occupation. He highlighted the expansion of the Middle Corridor and thanked Türkiye and Uzbekistan for their support in reconstruction efforts.

Bayramov also addressed key issues concerning regional peace and security, focusing on initiatives for socio-economic support to Afghanistan and the development of the Trans-Afghan Railway project. He emphasized the importance of the ceasefire in the Middle East, particularly in Gaza, and reiterated the need for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a “two-state solution” in line with international law. Furthermore, Bayramov mentioned ongoing efforts with Türkiye to support Syria’s reconstruction following the collapse of the Assad regime.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Ankara Declaration, the outcome document of the 2nd trilateral gathering, was adopted and signed. The declaration reaffirmed the commitment of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan to advancing cooperation on regional and international issues of mutual concern. It also outlined actions aimed at preserving sovereignty and territorial integrity while promoting growth in key areas such as economy, trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, digitization, and climate change.

In addition, the declaration recognized Azerbaijan’s leadership roles in COP29 and CICA, and called for a unified approach within the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on the security and development of Afghanistan—vital for Central Asian stability. The document also welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza and advocated for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Following the signing, the ministers held press statements, offering insights into the successful outcomes of the trilateral meeting and the strengthened ties between their countries.