Stockholm, 4 December 2021 (TDI): The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, met the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba. The meeting was within the framework of the OSCE Ministerial Council on 3 December
MEETING BETWEEN BAYRAMOV AND KULEBA
Bayramov and Kuleba acknowledged the high level of development of the Azerbaijan-Ukraine strategic relations. Both also took into account that next year the two countries celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The two Ministers also discussed the importance of organizing relevant events, and also about mutual visits. Bayramov and Kuleba exchanged views on prospects to strengthen the cooperation between their countries. The Ministers discussed those prospects in various fields, including transports.
Bayramov and Kuleba also acknowledged the activities in several areas, like within GUAM. Then they discussed the continuation of successful cooperation on multilateral platforms. Bayramov briefed Kuleba on the current post-conflict situation in the region, the implementation of trilateral statements.
He also briefed his Ukrainian counterpart on the steps taken by Azerbaijan regarding trilateral statements. Finally, Bayramov briefed Kuleba on the reconstruction work that the Government is carrying out in the liberated territories.
OSCE Ministerial Council
The OSCE is the largest regional security organization. The Organization also works to guarantee peace, democracy, and stability. The OSCE also helps to bridge differences, build trust, and foster cooperation within and between states.
The Organization intervenes when there is instability to prevent conflict, to manage the crisis, and finally promote post-conflict rehabilitation.
The Ministerial Council is the governing body of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). It is also the central decision-making body, and the Council meetings are held annually.
The OSCE mentioned that the Council provides an opportunity to the Foreign Ministers of the 57 countries that are part of the OSCE. That opportunity is to review and assess the Organization’s activities review. The Council also wants to strengthen the dialogue on security issues in the OSCE area.
AZERBAIJAN AND UKRAINE’S RELATIONS
Both established diplomatic relations with each other in 1992. Ukraine opened an Embassy in Azerbaijan in 1996. On the other side, Azerbaijan opened an Embassy in Ukraine in 1997.
According to the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Ukraine, the Declaration on Friendship, and Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Ukraine is the basis of their relations. Azerbaijan and Ukraine signed that Declaration in 2000.
The Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Cooperation is another basis of their bilateral relations. Both countries signed it in 2008. The Embassy also remarked that their relations are growing in political, economic, scientific, educational, cultural.
Regarding economic cooperation; both countries established the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, in 1993. They have signed around 115 agreements in the past years until 2013.
BACKGROUND OF BOTH COUNTRIES IN THE OSCE
Azerbaijan joined the OSCE in 1992, and it was the first European Organization that Azerbaijan entered. Since his entrance to the Organization, the country has participated in the Summits in Helsinki in 1992, in Budapest in 1994, in Lisbon in 1996, in Istanbul in 1999.
Azerbaijan participated also in the Astana Summits in 2010. These Summits were beside the Council meetings, and they also attend the annual meetings of the OSCE Council of Foreign Ministers
According to the Ministry, Azerbaijan has also cooperated with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) since 1998. Then the Ministry added that Azerbaijan has implemented projects regarding democratization, rule of law, and improve the legislation.
Whereas Ukraine joined in 1992. During the Ministerial Meeting of 2010, the states adopted the decision on Ukraine’s chairmanship in the OSCE in 2013. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, that decision recognized the role of Ukraine to strengthen security and stability in the Organization’s area.
In 2014, Ukraine requested the Permanent OSCE to deploy a Special monitoring mission of unarmed civilian observers. The 57 members of the Organization agreed to deploy the mission.
