President Aliyev streamlines diplomatic service structure

A meeting of prime ministers from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Baku on April 2 underscored both unity and divergence in the bloc’s response to escalating tensions around Iran, as leaders issued a joint statement condemning attacks linked to Iranian territory while calling for de-escalation and respect for sovereignty.

Masoud Pezeshkian, president of Iran, held a phone call with Ilham Aliyev, the leader of Azerbaijan, on April 2, as both sides signaled support for de-escalation following weeks of heightened regional tensions.

Russian media have reported the spread of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock in several regions of the country. According to these reports, the main outbreak zone is Siberia. Azerbaijan imports beef from Russia, which accounts for approximately 20% of total beef imports. Experts recommend that Azerbaijan exercise caution in importing beef from Russia.

Azerbaijan’s foreign exchange market remained stable in the early months of 2026, supported by a steady manat exchange rate, declining dollarisation and a modest increase in central bank reserves, official data showed.