Minister Georg Georgiev Discussed Bulgaria's Strategic Partnership with Azerbaijan and Energy Cooperation with President Ilham Aliyev
13 March 2025 News
Bulgaria attaches great importance to its relations with Azerbaijan, which were elevated to the level of strategic partnership as early as 2015. This was stated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev during his meeting with the country's President, Ilham Aliyev.
The two spoke in Baku, where Minister Georgiev is on a visit in connection with his participation in the XII Baku Global Forum. Today's meeting of the Bulgarian Foreign Minister with the Head of State of Azerbaijan was also attended by Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov.
During the conversation, Minister Georg Georgiev emphasized that Azerbaijan is a priority and reliable partner for Bulgaria in the South Caucasus region and the wider Black Sea region. Minister Georgiev specifically highlighted the Joint Declaration on strengthening the strategic partnership signed in 2024, which builds upon and expands the scope of bilateral cooperation in priority areas such as energy and connectivity, and gives additional impetus to other priority areas such as tourism, intercultural relations and relations between the two peoples.
For his part, President Aliyev affirmed the excellent relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, as well as the numerous opportunities to deepen bilateral dialogue and strategic partnership between the two countries. The Head of State also emphasized the exceptionally close partnership and friendly relations between Bulgaria and Azerbaijan, based not only on cooperation in priority areas of mutual interest, but also on the close inter-institutional and personal ties, which have created a high degree of partnership and good interaction at the high and highest intergovernmental level.
Foreign Minister Georgiev described the energy dialogue as central to the active political engagement with Azerbaijan, which, as a key partner of Bulgaria in the energy sector, makes a significant contribution to the diversification of natural gas supplies for the Bulgarian economy and is a strategic energy partner of the EU with a significant contribution to Europe's energy security. Georg Georgiev reaffirmed our country's intention to continue working to ensure that it becomes a major regional hub for the distribution of natural gas from Azerbaijan and other sources. He expressed confidence that both sides benefit significantly from the development of this cooperation.
President Aliyev and Minister Georgiev also discussed the development of the situation in Europe and the world as a whole, agreeing that achieving a more secure and stable environment in the wider Black Sea region depends on increasing resilience and improving connectivity in all its dimensions, including connectivity between regions.
The interlocutors pointed out that connectivity in infrastructure, energy, transport, digital and social sectors is essential for promoting security, investment, supporting young people and fostering a positive economic environment.
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