I. Aliyev instructed the new Foreign Minister on foreign policy priorities

Baku/16.07.20/Turan: On July 16, the head of state instructed the new Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov via video conference.

According to the transcript of the conversation, posted on the website of the President, Aliyev announced the need for personnel changes in the Foreign Ministry. “It is necessary to abandon the principle of personal acquaintances when solving personnel issues, to revise the work of the Foreign Ministry, to study the work of diplomatic missions. Some embassies cannot defend our interests at the proper level. It is necessary to intensify work with foreign media and diaspora organizations abroad,” Aliyev said.

He complained that that a dirty campaign is being conducted against Azerbaijan, and the embassies do not give an adequate response to this.

In particular, he mentioned political emigrants. “Our secret services have repeatedly informed their colleagues about this. We said that they should coordinate the work of these people. This shows the hypocrisy of these countries, which only in word are our friends. Their goal is to weaken Azerbaijan, compromise the leadership of Azerbaijan.

This is not a new policy, before they tried to blacken us with the help of so-called independent NGOs. They are financed by the foreign affairs agencies of large countries in order to achieve their interests. This is a deliberate policy. Our diplomacy should actively fight against all this, which has not happened recently,” Aliyev said.

Touching upon relations with other countries, Aliyev mentioned negotiations with the European Union on a bilateral agreement. “Most of the future agreement is ready, but there are points that are unacceptable to us. Their acceptance is impossible for us. We must protect our interests. We will not sign a document that is contrary to our interests. However, there is room for a compromise,” he said.

He mentioned the great importance of relations with the United States in all spheres and with Great Britain.

“However, the main task of the Foreign Ministry remains the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. There can be no changes in our position. This is our historical land and territorial integrity must be restored. There will be no negotiations for the sake of negotiations; they should be on specific issues. Today Armenia is disrupting negotiations,” I. Aliyev said, wishing good luck to the new minister. -02D-