Baku, April 9, 2026 – The Europe Today: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 9 received Prime Minister of Lithuania Inga Ruginienė, with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors.
Welcoming the Lithuanian premier, President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the visit would prove fruitful and contribute to further enhancing ties between the two countries. Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė thanked the Azerbaijani leadership for the warm reception and praised the longstanding friendly relations between Lithuania and Azerbaijan.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed prospects for deepening economic and trade cooperation, with particular focus on energy, investment, education, and agriculture. Both leaders underscored the importance of reciprocal visits by delegations to promote stronger engagement and broaden bilateral collaboration.
Prime Minister Ruginienė also congratulated Azerbaijan on recent progress toward peace with Armenia, acknowledging the country’s efforts in post-conflict recovery. She commended the large-scale restoration and reconstruction work underway in the liberated territories, highlighting initiatives aimed at facilitating the return of internally displaced persons.
President Ilham Aliyev expressed appreciation for the congratulations and reiterated that Azerbaijan has taken the lead in advancing peace initiatives in the region, including efforts to establish trade relations with Armenia. He noted that nearly 30,000 former internally displaced persons have returned to their ancestral lands, with new cities and villages being developed alongside transport and social infrastructure projects.
However, the president emphasized that landmine contamination continues to pose a major challenge to reconstruction efforts, revealing that more than 400 people have been killed or injured in mine-related incidents since the end of the conflict.
The meeting also covered cooperation within international organizations, with Lithuania reaffirming its support for strengthening Azerbaijan’s relations with the European Union. Both sides exchanged views on regional developments and expressed readiness to continue close coordination on issues of mutual interest.
