Antalya, April 11, 2025 — The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a meeting with Ahmed al-Sharaa, Interim President of the Syrian Arab Republic, on April 11 in Antalya.
During the meeting, President Aliyev conveyed his satisfaction with the recent positive developments in Syria and extended his congratulations to President al-Sharaa. He emphasized that, in light of these changes, Azerbaijan had promptly dispatched a delegation to Syria. He further announced the reopening of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Damascus, which had remained closed for an extended period due to the policies of the previous Assad regime.
President Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s readiness to actively participate in Syria’s reconstruction efforts, noting that such initiatives are essential for reinforcing long-term stability in the country.
In response, President al-Sharaa expressed his sincere appreciation for Azerbaijan’s support. He highlighted the potential for future Azerbaijani assistance in critical sectors such as energy, infrastructure, and security. He also reiterated his commitment to restoring stability in Syria while expressing concern over the influence of external factors on the country’s internal affairs.
The two leaders also explored the prospects for establishing a trilateral cooperation framework involving Azerbaijan, Syria, and Türkiye. Both sides agreed on the importance of deepening bilateral ties and enhancing economic cooperation.
To this end, they reached a mutual agreement to facilitate reciprocal visits by senior government officials and business delegations from both nations. In a gesture of strengthened diplomatic engagement, President Aliyev extended a formal invitation to President al-Sharaa to visit Azerbaijan — an invitation which was warmly accepted.
The meeting underscored a renewed chapter in Azerbaijani-Syrian relations and signaled a shared commitment to regional cooperation and post-conflict recovery.
