Baku: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev welcomed Pere Joan Pons Sampietro, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as reported by APA. The meeting focused on the recent resolution of a long-standing conflict in the OSCE region and the subsequent establishment of lasting peace.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Joan Pons Sampietro congratulated President Aliyev on the progress made in the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia. President Aliyev expressed appreciation for the congratulations but lamented the OSCE Minsk Group's prolonged inability to resolve the conflict and the failure to implement UN Security Council resolutions calling for the withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territories.

President Aliyev emphasized that Azerbaijan independently achieved resolution through a combination of military and political strategies, thereby restoring its territorial integrity and sovereignty. The discussion also touched on the satisfactory political dialogue between Azerbaijan and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, contrasting it with interactions with other European parliamentary bodies.

The meeting underscored the need for a balanced approach in addressing issues across the OSCE region, as reflected in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's agenda. Additionally, the dialogue highlighted Azerbaijan's contributions to intercultural dialogue.

Pere Joan Pons Sampietro also pointed out the significance of the upcoming 4th International Mine Action Conference, which focuses on humanitarian demining for urban recovery. He noted that the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is actively engaged in addressing landmine issues within its agenda.