The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis concluded his official visit to Azerbaijan today, following a high-level meeting focused on regional developments, co-operation, connectivity, and efforts to promote lasting peace and stability in the South Caucasus.
During the visit, Chairman-in-Office Cassis met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov. Discussions focused on the OSCE's long-standing partnership with Azerbaijan and opportunities to further strengthen co-operation across all three dimensions of security.
"I welcome the progress made towards a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. A lasting peace is within reach, and I encourage the parties to take the necessary steps towards its signature and implementation. The OSCE stands ready, whenever useful and at the request of the parties, to support dialogue, confidence-building and efforts towards lasting peace and enhanced regional cooperation in the South Caucasus," said Chairman-in-Office Cassis.
He also underlined the benefits that the normalization of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia would bring to the broader region. Chairman-in-Office Cassis reiterated the importance of continued dialogue and constructive engagement in fostering stability and co-operation in the South Caucasus and beyond.
The visit to Azerbaijan marks the beginning of the Chairman-in-Office's regional outreach to the South Caucasus and Central Asia. He will continue his visit to Turkmenistan tomorrow and is expected to visit Armenia and Georgia later this autumn.
