Azerbaijan and Syria Leaders Discuss Energy and Cooperation Opportunities

Kokcha News Agency reports that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the latter’s working visit to Baku. The meeting, attended by ministers and officials from both sides, covered a wide range of issues, notably energy cooperation and economic ties.

Aliyev emphasized that Azeri-Syrian relations had been stagnant during Bashar al-Assad’s earlier regime, which he described as having adopted a “distrustful” approach toward Azerbaijan. However, with the new Syrian administration taking power, Aliyev noted a significant expansion in the scope of cooperation and expressed a desire to develop these cooperation efforts further.

President Assad thanked Aliyev for Azerbaijan’s brotherly support. He acknowledged that the ousted regime damaged Syria’s relations with many countries, including Azerbaijan, but stated that Syria is now open to political, economic, cultural, and humanitarian collaboration with Azerbaijan.

Energy Collaboration and Gas Export:
In the discussion, both leaders underlined the importance of energy cooperation. It was announced that a project to export Azerbaijani gas to Syria via Turkey would soon be implemented. This initiative aims to significantly contribute to Syria’s energy security, especially as the country faces severe energy shortages. Experts noted that Azerbaijan has the capacity to support Syria’s energy infrastructure reconstruction, potentially aiding in the country’s post-conflict recovery. Assad highlighted that Azerbaijani support would play a vital role in resolving Syria’s energy problems and fostering its development.

Educational and Cultural Cooperation:
The talks also covered cooperation in education, culture, and humanitarian fields. Both leaders discussed providing scholarships for Syrian students in Azerbaijan and restoring historical monuments. Aliyev’s experience in reconstruction and development of liberated regions was mentioned as a valuable resource that could support Syria’s post-war rebuilding process.

Aliyev and Assad then held a bilateral meeting, emphasizing the strengthening of ties and joint efforts toward regional stability and reconstruction.