Ukrainian MFA: Cooperation with Azerbaijan in BSEC will strengthen economic cooperation

Ukraine and Azerbaijan are strategic partners that strive to develop friendly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation on the entire range of bilateral cooperation issues. The visit of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Vasyl Bodnar to Baku served this purpose, Report informs, citing the Ukraine Foreign Ministry.

According to the information, the meetings with Bodnar in the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in February focused on developing political dialogue between the two countries, cooperation within the framework of international and regional organizations. They also discussed certain aspects of implementing the agreements reached during the official visit of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to Azerbaijan in December 2019.

"Vasyl Bodnar expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan's leadership for consistent support of Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He informed in detail about the situation in the east of our country, as well as about the efforts of the leadership of Ukraine regarding the de-occupation of Crimea". Foreign Ministry also conveyed an invitation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva to the celebrations on the 30th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, which will take place in Kyiv on August 23-24 this year.

The sides paid particular attention to cooperation within the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), which is essential for both countries. Vasyl Bodnar noted Ukraine's interest in implementing the Organization's statutory goal — transforming the Black Sea region into a zone of peace, stability, and economic prosperity. The activities of the BSEC should be focused on economic projects that benefit all the Member Countries of the Organization.

"Ukraine's interaction with Azerbaijan in the BSEC and other partners should also create new additional opportunities for strengthening integrated economic cooperation in the Black Sea region and global economic processes in general. The restructuring of the BSEC Business Council, the launch of startups, the improvement of cargo transportation procedures, the implementation of the "electronic permit" project, as well as the harmonization of customs and border procedures through the synchronization of digital public services and the use of BLOCKCHAIN technologies can play an essential role in this process.

To implement these crucial tasks, Ukraine has nominated its candidate for the post of Secretary-General of the BSEC Permanent International Secretariat and counts on the appropriate support of the Azerbaijani side," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said.