Baku, March 19, 2025 – The Europe Today: Azerbaijan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jeyhun Bayramov, held a telephone conversation with his Dutch counterpart, Caspar Veldkamp, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.
The ministers exchanged views on various aspects of Azerbaijan-Netherlands relations, emphasizing the importance of political consultations between their respective ministries to address the current state and prospects of cooperation. They also highlighted the significance of reciprocal visits and engagements within international organizations to further strengthen diplomatic ties.
During the conversation, Minister Bayramov provided an overview of the post-conflict situation in the region and the ongoing Azerbaijan-Armenia normalization process. He underscored that although negotiations on the peace agreement have concluded, a prerequisite for signing the agreement is Armenia’s constitutional amendment to eliminate any claims against Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Furthermore, Bayramov reiterated the necessity of abolishing the Minsk Group and related structures of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), citing their outdated and ineffective status in addressing the current realities of the region.
The Azerbaijani minister also briefed his Dutch counterpart on legal proceedings involving Armenian citizens and separatist leaders accused of large-scale crimes against Azerbaijan. He noted that following Azerbaijan’s anti-terror measures, the country had demonstrated a humane approach by permitting over 10,000 members of illegal Armenian armed groups to leave its territory. He emphasized that those currently detained are accused of crimes against humanity and rejected allegations of unfounded detentions as part of a smear campaign against Azerbaijan. In this regard, Bayramov referred to the United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s report, published on March 13, 2025, which dismissed the Armenian side’s claims.
The discussion also included an exchange of views on other matters of mutual interest, reaffirming the commitment of both nations to continued dialogue and cooperation.
