The president of the European Council on Sunday (18 July) continued with his tour of the South Caucasus, holding talks in Baku with the Azerbaijani president, Ilham Aliyev.
Speaking to journalists after the discussions the two leaders emphasised the importance of connectivity and the positive benefits that it can bring to the region. A constant theme throughout the press conference was the importance of regional co-operation. Michel emphasised the importance of lasting peace in the region and said the European Union was ready to play a positive role as an honest broker to contribute to peace and stability in the region.
He later tweeted
The EU is ready to play a constructive role as an honest broker with #Azerbaijan and #Armenia in addition to the Minsk group efforts.
— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) July 18, 2021
We want to share our expertise to provide more stability and to promote sustainable peace in the region.@presidentaz pic.twitter.com/0eWpPvbd76
Both leaders hailed the deep and varied relations between the European Union and Azerbaijani. As president Michel pointed out, this relationship is not dependant on EU financial support to Azerbaijan but on concrete projects of co-operation which are beneficial to both sides.
President Michel on Sunday evening travelled to Georgia on the last lap of his visit to the South Caucasus.
